Debt dynamics and fiscal policy stance in Cape Verde: Is there evidence of pro-cyclical behavior?

Ana Paula Ribeiro (), Vitor Carvalho and Hélder Sanches ()
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Ana Paula Ribeiro: Faculdade de Economia do Porto, University of Porto, Portugal and CEF.UP
Hélder Sanches: United Nations International Computing Centre, UNICC

FEP Working Papers from Universidade do Porto, Faculdade de Economia do Porto

Abstract: Over the past two decades, Cape Verde has evolved positively in regards to main macroeconomic indicators. But, in contrast with that observed in Sub-Saharan Africa, public debt increased sharply in the aftermath of the 2008-09 crisis, which may constrain growth and development. In order to assess if recent debt records result from pro-cyclical fiscal policy, we make an exhaustive analysis of debt dynamics in Cape Verde: i) we provide detailed records on debt dynamics and its composition and ii) through estimating cyclical elasticities of the budget balance, we compute structural primary deficits to identify the discretionary fiscal policy stance. We conclude that recent debt increase was mainly determined by primary structural deficits. However, discretionary policy was adequately counter cyclical or, when pro-cyclical, it was associated with investment efforts. Thus debt correction will be an easy task to perform because debt bias does not mimic deficit bias due to political-cycle motivations.

Keywords: Public debt dynamics; Snowball effect; Pro-cyclical fiscal policy; Cape Verde (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E62 H30 H62 H63 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 28 pages
Date: 2022-06
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Working Paper: Debt dynamics and fiscal policy stance in Cape Verde: Is there evidence of pro-cyclical behavior? (2021)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:por:fepwps:624

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