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The Effects Of Fiscal Policy At The Effective Lower Bound

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  • Bonam, Dennis
  • De Haan, Jakob
  • Soederhuizen, Beau

Abstract

We estimate the effects of government spending shocks during prolonged episodes of low interest rates, which we consider as proxy for the effective lower bound (ELB). Using a panel VAR model for 17 advanced countries, we find that both the government consumption and investment multipliers are significantly higher, and exceed unity, when interest rates are persistently low. Distinguishing between construction- and equipment-related government investments, we find that only the former raises output by significantly more when the ELB binds. This result can be explained by existing New Keynesian models featuring time-to-build constraints on government investment.

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  • Bonam, Dennis & De Haan, Jakob & Soederhuizen, Beau, 2022. "The Effects Of Fiscal Policy At The Effective Lower Bound," Macroeconomic Dynamics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 26(1), pages 149-185, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:macdyn:v:26:y:2022:i:1:p:149-185_6
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    2. Heimberger Philipp & Welslau Lennard & Schütz Bernhard & Gechert Sebastian & Guarascio Dario & Zezza Francesco, 2024. "Debt Sustainability Analysis in Reformed EU Fiscal Rules: The Effect of Fiscal Consolidation on Growth and Public Debt Ratios," Intereconomics: Review of European Economic Policy, Sciendo, vol. 59(5), pages 276-283.

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