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Reassessing the Impact of the US Fiscal Stimulus: The Role of the Monetary Policy Stance

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  • Andrew Hughes Hallett
  • Ansgar Rannenberg
  • Sven Schreiber

Abstract

Cogan et al. (2009, 2010) claimed that the stimulus package passed by the United States Congress in February 2009 had a multiplier far below one. However, the stimulus’ multiplier strongly depends on the assumed monetary policy response. Based on official statements from the Fed chairman, the general economic outlook, past behavior of the FOMC, optimal policy considerations, and from financial market expectations, we find that in February 2009, a reasonable prediction of the period of monetary accommodation would have exceeded 9 quarters. This implies that a plausible real time assessment of the stimulus’ effects would have been more optimistic than Cogan et al.’s.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew Hughes Hallett & Ansgar Rannenberg & Sven Schreiber, 2017. "Reassessing the Impact of the US Fiscal Stimulus: The Role of the Monetary Policy Stance," International Business Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 10(4), pages 12-31, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:ibn:ibrjnl:v:10:y:2017:i:4:p:12-31
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    1. Jordan Roulleau‐Pasdeloup, 2018. "The Government Spending Multiplier in a (Mis)Managed Liquidity Trap," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 50(2-3), pages 293-315, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Obama fiscal stimulus; fiscal multiplier; interest rate forecasts;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E58 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Central Banks and Their Policies
    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • E37 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Forecasting and Simulation: Models and Applications
    • E47 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Forecasting and Simulation: Models and Applications

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