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Recurrent explosive public debts and the long-run fiscal sustainability

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  • Bystrov, Victor
  • Mackiewicz, Michał

Abstract

In this paper, the dynamics of debt-to-GDP ratio is analyzed for three countries with long fiscal records: Sweden, the UK and the US. A novel procedure of testing for recurrent explosive behavior is implemented in order to identify episodes of explosive debt dynamics. The detected periods of explosive debt growth can be attributed to changes in economic, political and institutional environment which required active policy responses subsequently followed by fiscal adjustments. The results of the study indicate that the long-run sustainability found for these countries in other studies can be interpreted as the outcome of fluctuating fiscal policies, some of which were unsustainable.

Suggested Citation

  • Bystrov, Victor & Mackiewicz, Michał, 2020. "Recurrent explosive public debts and the long-run fiscal sustainability," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 437-450.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jpolmo:v:42:y:2020:i:2:p:437-450
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpolmod.2019.10.002
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    3. Michał Mackiewicz, 2021. "The sustainability of fiscal policy in southern African countries–a comparative empirical perspective," International Journal of Emerging Markets, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 18(2), pages 337-350, April.
    4. Ricardo Ferraz & Joaquim Miranda Sarmento & António Portugal Duarte, 2024. "The Sustainability of Portuguese Fiscal Policy in Democracy, 1974–2020," Journal of Quantitative Economics, Springer;The Indian Econometric Society (TIES), vol. 22(3), pages 749-772, September.
    5. Fengsheng Chien & Ka Yin Chau & Talla M. Aldeehani & Pham Quang Huy & Luc Phan Tan & Muhammad Mohsin, 2022. "Does external debt as a new determinants of fiscal policy influence sustainable economic growth: implications after COVID-19," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 55(3), pages 1717-1737, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Public debt; Fiscal sustainability; Explosiveness;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C12 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Hypothesis Testing: General
    • C22 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models; Diffusion Processes
    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • H63 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - Debt; Debt Management; Sovereign Debt

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