Presenter: Olivier Blanchard Affiliation: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Economics, and PIIE. Book: Fiscal Policy under Low Interest Rates Date: February 28, 2023 Time: 14:00 GMT (16:00 Israel Time) Abstract: Policy makers in advanced economies find themselves in an unusual fiscal environment: debt ratios are historically high, and—once the fight against inflation is won—real … Read more
Presenter: Jason Furman Affiliation: Harvard University, Harvard Kennedy School Slides: The global economic outlook, a reconsideration of fiscal policy, and what it means for small open economies Date: November 29, 2022 Time: 13:00 GMT (15:00 Israel Time) Abstract: The talk will begin with the U.S. and global macroeconomic outlook, focusing on the outlook for inflation … Read more
Presenter: John H. Cochrane Affiliation: Stanford University, Hoover Institution Paper: Inflation Past, Present and Future: Fiscal Shocks, Fed Response, and Fiscal Limits Date: October 18, 2022 Time: 12:00 GMT (15:00 Israel Time) Abstract: Our current inflation stemmed from a fiscal shock. The Fed is slow to react. Why? Will the Fed’s slow reaction spur more … Read more
Presenter: Carlos A. Vegh Affiliation: Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies and the Department of Economics. Paper: Procyclical Fiscal Policy and Asset Market Incompleteness. Date: May 2, 2022 Time: 10:30 GMT Abstract: We develop a model of the joint behavior of optimal tax rates and government spending over the business cycle to explain … Read more
Presenter: Ricardo Reis Affiliation: London School of Economics and Political Science Paper: The Constraint on Public Debt when r < g but g < m. Date: November 16, 2021 Time: 13:00 GMT Abstract: With real interest rates below the growth rate of the economy, but the marginal product of capital above it, the public debt ... Read more
We study the monetary-fiscal mix in the European Monetary Union. The medium and long-run effects of conventional and unconventional monetary policy can be analysed by combining monetary policy shocks identified in a Structural VAR, and the general government budget constraint featuring a single central bank and multiple fiscal authorities. In response to a conventional easing of the policy rate, the real discount rate declines, absorbing the increase in deficit due to the fiscal policy leaning towards the easing. Conversely, in response to an unconventional easing of the long end of the yield curve, the discount rate declines strongly, while the primary fiscal surplus barely moves. The long-run effect of unconventional monetary easing on inflation is about half than that of conventional, a result which also explains the muted response of fiscal policy. Results do not point to large differences across countries.
This note presents an overview of my research on the monetary/fiscal policy mix. I discuss why central bank’s ability to control inflation requires fiscal backing. The post-Volcker consensus about the importance of central bank independence was a response to the fiscal nature of the Great Inflation of the 1970s. This consensus is now called into question in light of the limits of monetary policy and the little appetite for fiscal orthodoxy following two severe re- cessions. In this context, a coordinated strategy between the monetary and fiscal authorities works as an automatic stabilizer, reducing the likelihood of a disastrous conflict between the two authorities. Under this coordinated strategy, the fiscal authority introduces an emergency budget, while the monetary authority announces a temporary increase in the inflation target to accommodate the emergency budget. The strategy results in only moderate levels of inflation by separating long-run fiscal sustainability from a short-run policy intervention. In the context of the Euro area, Eurobonds could be used to achieve better coordination between monetary and fiscal policy.