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Fiscal Sustainability and Fiscal Soundness

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  • Haizhou Huang
  • Danyang Xie

Abstract

This paper tackles fiscal sustainability and fiscal soundness. In contrast to the existing literature, our analysis is in a general equilibrium framework. We obtain three results. First, we endogenize growth rate and interest rate, the two key rates for any study of fiscal sustainability; second, we illustrate that fiscal sustainability in general equilibrium should not be measured by a one-dimension indicator, e.g., debt-to-GDP ratio as in conventional studies, rather it is a line¡ªa fiscal sustainability frontier¡ªin two dimensions, namely, debt-to-GDP ratio and expenditure-to-GDP ratio; third, we obtain a novel and useful index of aggregate fiscal soundness.

Suggested Citation

  • Haizhou Huang & Danyang Xie, 2008. "Fiscal Sustainability and Fiscal Soundness," Annals of Economics and Finance, Society for AEF, vol. 9(2), pages 239-251, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:cuf:journl:y:2008:v:9:i:2:p:239-251
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Patrick Bolton & Haizhou Huang, 2017. "The Capital Structure of Nations," NBER Working Papers 23612, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Patrick Bolton & Haizhou Huang, 2018. "The Capital Structure of Nations [Welfare analysis of currency regimes with defaultable debts]," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 22(1), pages 45-82.
    3. Mthuli Ncube & Zuzana Brixiová, 2015. "Public Debt Sustainability in Africa: Building Resilience and Challenges Ahead," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 33(5), pages 555-580, September.
    4. Berrittella, Maria & Zhang, Jian, 2015. "Fiscal sustainability in the EU: From the short-term risk to the long-term challenge," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 261-280.
    5. Afonso, António & Jalles, João Tovar, 2013. "Growth and productivity: The role of government debt," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 384-407.
    6. Xiao Cheng & Yanping Pu, 2017. "Effective Tax Rates, Spatial Spillover, and Economic Growth in China: An Empirical Study Based on the Spatial Durbin Model," Annals of Economics and Finance, Society for AEF, vol. 18(1), pages 73-97, May.
    7. Mthuli Ncube & Zuzana Brixiova, 2015. "Working Paper 227 - Public Debt Sustainability in Africa: Building Resilience and Challenges Ahead," Working Paper Series 2170, African Development Bank.
    8. Bolton, Patrick & Huang, Haizhou, 2017. "The Capital Structure of Nations," CEPR Discussion Papers 12157, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Fiscal sustainability; Sustainability frontier; Fiscal soundness;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • E61 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Policy Objectives; Policy Designs and Consistency; Policy Coordination
    • C61 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Optimization Techniques; Programming Models; Dynamic Analysis

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