Does it Cost to be Virtuous? The Macroeconomic Effects of Fiscal Constraints

   (430 K)

We study whether and how fiscal restrictions alter the business cycle features of macrovariables for a sample of 48 US states. We also examine the "typical" transmission properties of fiscal disturbances and the implied fiscal rules of states with different fiscal restrictions. Fiscal constraints are characterized with a number of indicators. There are similarities in second moments of macrovariables and in the transmission properties of fiscal shocks across states with different fiscal constraints. The cyclical response of expenditure differs in size and sometimes in sign, but heterogeneity within groups makes point estimates statistically insignificant. Creative budget accounting is responsible for the pattern. Implications for the design of fiscal rules and the reform of the Stability and Growth Pact are discussed.

Published:

• Canova, Fabio and Evi Pappa. "The Elusive Costs And The Immaterial Gains Of Fiscal Constraints," Journal of Public Economics, 2006, v90(8-9,Sep), 1391-1414. ,
• Does it Cost to be Virtuous? The Macroeconomic Effects of Fiscal Constraints, Fabio Canova, Evi Pappa, in NBER International Seminar on Macroeconomics 2004 (2006), The MIT Press
  

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