TY  - JOUR
AU  - Feldstein,Martin
TI  - The Role for Discretionary Fiscal Policy in a Low Interest Rate Environment
JF  - National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper Series
VL  - No. 9203
PY  - 2002
Y2  - September 2002
UR  - http://www.nber.org/papers/w9203
L1  - http://www.nber.org/papers/w9203.pdf
N1  - Author contact info:
Martin S. Feldstein
President Emeritus
NBER
1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA  02138-5398
Tel: 617/868-3905
Fax: 617/868-7194
E-Mail: msfeldst@nber.org
AB  - Although there is now widespread agreement in the economics profession that discretionary  counter-cyclical'fiscal policy has not contributed to economic stability and may have actually been destabilizing at particular times in the past, there is one important condition when discretionary fiscal policy can play a constructive role: in a sustained downturn when aggregate demand and interest rates are low and when prices are falling or may soon be falling. This short note begins by summarizing the general case against using fiscal policy for stabilization.  It next considers the argument for using a  hyperexpansive' monetary policy to reduce the risk that a low rate of inflation will lead to a deflationary situation in which monetary policy becomes ineffective.  Such a policy would increase the risk of asset price bubbles and of a misaligned exchange rate. Discretionary fiscal policy provides an alternative way to stimulate the economy when aggregate demand and interest rates are low and when prices are falling or may soon be falling.  A stimulus can be achieved without increasing budget deficits if the fiscal policy acts by providing an incentive for increased private spending.  Specific examples for the U.S. and Japan are considered.
ER  -