Policy asymmetries and fiscal sustainability: evidence from Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Opeoluwa Adeniyi Adeosun ◽  
Olumide Steven Ayodele ◽  
Olajide Clement Jongbo
Keyword(s):  
Fiscal Policy ◽  
Public Debt ◽  
Markov Switching ◽  
Fiscal Sustainability ◽  
Constant Parameter ◽  
Policy Rule ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainability Analysis ◽  
Debt Dynamics ◽  
Fiscal Balance

PurposeThis study examines and compares different specifications of the fiscal policy rule in the fiscal sustainability analysis of Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachThis is methodologically achieved by estimating the baseline constant-parameter and Markov regime switching fiscal models. The asymmetric autoregressive distributed lag fiscal model is also employed to substantiate the differential responses of fiscal authorities to public debt.FindingsThe baseline constant-parameter fiscal model provides mixed results of sustainable and unsustainable fiscal policy. The inconclusiveness is adduced to instability in primary fiscal balance–public debt dynamics. This makes it necessary to capture regime switches in the fiscal policy rule. The Markov switching estimations show a protracted fiscal unsustainable regime that is inconsistent with the intertemporal budget constraint (IBC). The no-Ponzi game and debt stabilizing results of the Markov switching fiscal model further revealed that the transversality and debt stability conditions were not satisfied. Additional findings from the asymmetric autoregressive model estimation show that fiscal consolidation responses vary with contraction and expansion in output and spending, coupled with downturns and upturns in public debt dynamics in both the long and short run. These findings thus confirm the presence of asymmetries in the fiscal policy authorities' reactions to public debt. Further, additional evidences show the violation of the IBC which is exacerbated by the deleterious effect of the pro-cyclical fiscal policy response in boom on the improvement of the primary fiscal balance.Originality/valueThis study deviates from the extant literature by accommodating time variation, periodic switches and fiscal policy asymmetries in the fiscal sustainability analysis of Nigeria.

The macroeconomic effects of fiscal consolidation policies in Greece

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanos Papadamou ◽  
Trifon Tzivinikos
Keyword(s):  
Fiscal Policy ◽  
Public Debt ◽  
Wage Policy ◽  
Government Consumption ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Indirect Taxes ◽  
Debt Dynamics ◽  
Policy Shocks ◽  
The Government ◽  
A Minor

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the effects of contractionary fiscal policy shocks on major Greek macroeconomic variables within a structural vector autoregression framework while accounting for debt dynamics. Design/methodology/approach The sign restriction approach is applied to identify a linear combination of government spending and government revenue shock simultaneously while accounting for debt dynamics. Additionally, output and unemployment responses to fiscal shocks under different scenarios concerning the amalgamation of austerity measures are considered. Findings The results indicate that a contractionary consumption policy shock, namely, a 1 per cent decrease in government consumption and a 1 per cent increase in indirect taxes, is preferred, as it produces a minor decrease in output and substantially decreases public debt, while a contractionary wage policy shock is suitable only when the government aims to sharply reduce public debt, as the consequences for the economy are harsh. A contractionary investment policy shock is not recommended, as it triggers a rise in unemployment and a fall in output, while the effect on the public debt is minor. Practical implications Policymakers should focus their efforts on reducing unproductive government consumption on the expenditure side. Concerning revenues, the reinforcement of tax administration is recommended to ensure that indirect taxes will be collected. Originality/value This paper contributes to the existing literature by providing a disaggregated analysis of the effects of fiscal policy actions in Greece by implementing several fiscal policy scenarios and accounting for the level of public debt. All scenarios are in the vein of the economic adjustment programs guidelines.

Empirical appraisal of fiscal stability: the case of Ghana

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 753-779
Author(s):  
Nana Kwame Akosah
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Monetary Policy ◽  
Fiscal Policy ◽  
Central Bank ◽  
Public Debt ◽  
Inflation Targeting ◽  
Fiscal Sustainability ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quarterly Data ◽  
Poor Countries

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to appraise the stability of Ghana’s fiscal policy by assessing government’s reaction in the past to rising public debt over the last three decades. Design/methodology/approach – Using quarterly data spanning 1990Q1-2013Q2, the study evaluated the mean reverting properties of Ghana’s public debt and also estimate the fiscal policy reaction function. The complementary estimation techniques include Pesaran et al. (2001) bound testing cointegration test, differencing method and also Granger two-step cointegration methods. Findings – Using quarterly data from 1990Q1 to 2013Q2, the study found the fiscal policy to be unstable in the 1990s, necessitating the adoption of Heavily Indebted Poor Countries’ initiative in 2001. The fiscal situation however relatively stabilizes afterwards following the external debt relief in 2001. Nevertheless, the study reveals that the recent fiscal policy (since 2006) seems to be confronted with tremendous fiscal pressures, exacerbated by fiscal excesses during election cycles as well as excessive domestic and external borrowings. In addition, the economic growth-debt link was found to be weak, though debt appears to adversely affect economic growth. Research limitations/implications – The study does not thoroughly explore the possibility of non-linear relationship between public debt and primary balance. Also, the result could be different using different data frequencies. Practical implications – The state of government finance has implications on the monetary policy and economic growth prospects of an economy. As an inflation targeting central bank since 2002, a successful monetary policy implementation that reins in inflation requires fiscal policy that curtails fiscal volatilities originating from imprudent behaviour of government. Therefore, the looming fiscal pressures in recent times would impair the effective implementation of the inflation targeting framework by the central bank, and also retard economic growth as the bulk of these expenditures are usually recurrent in the case of Ghana. Originality/value – This is the first paper to employ complementary econometric techniques to empirically evaluate fiscal sustainability in Ghana.

Fiscal sustainability in India: evidence from Markov switching and threshold regression models

2019 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vaseem Akram ◽  
Badri Narayan Rath
Keyword(s):  
Regression Model ◽  
Public Debt ◽  
Markov Switching ◽  
Fiscal Sustainability ◽  
Optimum Level ◽  
Fiscal Deficit ◽  
Threshold Regression ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainability Issue ◽  
Threshold Regression Model

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the fiscal sustainability issue by dividing the fiscal deficit into high and low regimes using the quarterly data from 1997: Q1 to 2013: Q3. Further, we obtain the optimum level of public debt at which fiscal sustainability can be achieved.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses the Markov Switching-Vector Error Correction Model (MS-VECM) for examining fiscal sustainability and threshold regression model to obtain the optimum level of debt.FindingsThe results derived from MS-VECM reveal the evidence in favor of fiscal sustainability during low fiscal deficit periods. Similarly, using a threshold regression model, the optimum public debt as a percentage to GDP seems to be around 21 per cent on a quarterly basis, beyond this level, public debt hurts economic growth.Practical implicationsFrom the policy front, the government of India should cut down the fiscal deficit only if debt reaches beyond a threshold level.Originality/valueNoting that the vast literature has focused on examining the fiscal sustainability in India, the novelty of this study is to examine the fiscal sustainability by considering high and low deficits regimes using a non-linear approach.

Fiscal risks are low but rising in Turkey

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Fiscal Policy ◽  
Public Debt ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Current Account Deficit ◽  
Private Investment ◽  
Fiscal Sustainability ◽  
Budget Deficits ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Government

Subject Turkey's fiscal sustainability. Significance By keeping fiscal deficits low, the government has steadily reduced the public debt to about 33% of GDP. However, fiscal policy is now shoring up growth. There is also concern about the lack of further public financial reform, insufficient transparency and contingent liabilities. Impacts Wider budget deficits may not affect growth notably, given the weak global economy and low private investment and investor confidence. Turkey will have one of Europe's lowest public-debt levels, but investors may need to pay more attention to public finances. Fiscal policy could join more urgent worries about politics, the current-account deficit, private-sector debt and monetary policy.

Air pollution and public finance: evidence for European countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (7) ◽  
pp. 1398-1417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Carratù ◽  
Bruno Chiarini ◽  
Antonella D’Agostino ◽  
Elisabetta Marzano ◽  
Andrea Regoli
Keyword(s):  
Public Finance ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Fiscal Policy ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Public Debt ◽  
Environmental Performance ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Fiscal Consolidation ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether a statistically significant relationship exists between environmental quality, as measured by consumption-related air pollution, and public debt in Europe. In addition, since the debt burden is one of the most important indicators of fiscal soundness within the European Union (EU) Treaty and the subsequent fiscal compact, the authors propose a simple test to determine whether participation in EU Treaties has shaped the empirical relationship between fiscal policy/public debt and environmental performance. Design/methodology/approach To this end, the authors built a panel data set that covers 24 European countries over the period 1996–2015. Findings The aspect that the authors want to underline is a possible trade off, which is confirmed in the empirical analysis, between the public finance equilibrium and the maintenance of a public good such as air quality. However, there are important non-linearities that shape the interaction between public debt and environmental pollution. Similarly, threshold effects arise when the authors examine the interaction between EU regulation and public debt and when the authors separately examine high debt and low debt countries. When the authors account for the stabilization rules introduced by EU Treaties, a negative effect on pollution is evident; in this way, fiscal consolidation limits the positive effect of fiscal policy. Practical implications The results point out the existence of a potential trade-off between the role of EU as a regulator aiming to mitigate environmental pollution, and its role within the Stability and Growth Pact. The analysis highlights that fiscal consolidation policies, while facilitating the achievement of macroeconomic stability within EU, might have a negative side effect on the environment quality, which spreads beyond the borders of one single country. Originality/value While a number of studies have suggested that fiscal spending might contribute to the level of pollution in European countries, there is scant evidence of the effect of public debt on environmental performance. This lack of scientific knowledge is a serious shortcoming, since it may allow for an underrepresentation of the wide-ranging consequences of stabilization programmes targeting the debt-to-GDP ratio, which could affect environmental quality.

Optimal fiscal policy rule for achieving fiscal sustainability: the Japanese case

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naoyuki Yoshino ◽  
Tetsuro Mizoguchi ◽  
Farhad Taghizadeh Hesary
Keyword(s):  
Fiscal Policy ◽  
Fiscal Sustainability ◽  
Policy Rule ◽  
Japanese Case ◽  
Optimal Fiscal Policy

Fiscal Policy, Public Debt and the World Crisis

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gauti B. Eggertsson
Keyword(s):  
Fiscal Policy ◽  
Public Debt ◽  
Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium ◽  
Equilibrium Analysis ◽  
World Crisis ◽  
Debt Dynamics ◽  
World Economic ◽  
Dynamic Stochastic ◽  
World Economic Crisis

AbstractThis study summarizes a theory of the origin of the current world economic crisis and the role of fiscal policy in mitigating its effect. The perspective is dynamic stochastic general equilibrium analysis. Overall, the model analysis suggests a strong case for fiscal policy if the monetary authority is unable/unwilling to close the output gap. This remains the case, even when explicitly taking into account public debt dynamics.

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