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The consensus view on interest rates and fiscal policy: reality or innocent fraud?

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  • Alvaro Angeriz
  • Philip Arestis

Abstract

Current economic policy upgrades monetary policy and downgrades fiscal policy. Monetary policy involves the manipulation of the central bank interest rate, with the specific objective of achieving the main goal of monetary policy, which is, in most cases, the inflation rate. Fiscal policy should not be used as an instrument of stabilization policy. This raises two issues. The first is the theoretical underpinnings of this mode of economic policy. The second is the extent the quantitative impact of monetary and fiscal policy in the real world adhere to the principles set out by theory. Both aspects are investigated in this paper. We summarize results drawn from the euro area, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Two important conclusions emerge: the empirical results point to a relatively weak effect of interest rate changes on inflation. Also, monetary policy can have long-run effects on real magnitudes. Fiscal policy does have strong effects after all.

Suggested Citation

  • Alvaro Angeriz & Philip Arestis, 2009. "The consensus view on interest rates and fiscal policy: reality or innocent fraud?," Journal of Post Keynesian Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(4), pages 567-586, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:mes:postke:v:31:y:2009:i:4:p:567-586
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Jesús Ferreiro & M. Teresa García-del-Valle & Carmen Gómez, 2013. "An Analysis of the Convergence of the Composition of Public Expenditures in European Union Countries," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 72(4), pages 799-825, October.
    4. Forges Davanzati, Guglielmo & Pacella, Andrea, 2013. "The profits-investments puzzle: A Post Keynesian-Institutional interpretation," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 1-13.
    5. Carrasco, Carlos A., 2013. "El Nuevo Consenso Macroeconómico y la mediocridad del crecimiento económico en México [New Consensus Macroeconomics and the mediocrity of economic growth in Mexico]," MPRA Paper 53391, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Giorgos Argitis, 2011. "A view on post-Keynesian interest rate policy," European Journal of Economics and Economic Policies: Intervention, Edward Elgar Publishing, vol. 8(1), pages 91-112.
    7. Christophe Blot & Marion Cochard & Jérôme Creel & Bruno Ducoudré & Danielle Schweisguth & Xavier Timbeau, 2014. "Fiscal consolidation in times of crisis: is the sooner really the better?," Revue de l'OFCE, Presses de Sciences-Po, vol. 0(1), pages 159-192.
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