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Smaller Public Sectors in the Euro Area: Aggregate and Distributional Implications

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  • George Economides
  • Dimitris Papageorgiou
  • Apostolis Philippopoulos
  • Vanghelis Vassilatos

Abstract

We study the aggregate and distributional implications of a smaller public sector in the euro area. By a smaller public sector, we mean a reduction in public debt over time and/or cuts in public spending, when such changes in fiscal policy are accommodated by adjustment in various taxes. Aggregate implications have to do with per capita output and welfare, whereas distribution refers to differences in income and welfare between private and public sector employees. We solve the model numerically using fiscal data from the euro area and then do a number of policy experiments. The general message is that the issue is not just a smaller public sector, but also the spending-tax mix chosen. (JEL codes: H10, H3, H2) Copyright The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Ifo Institute, Munich. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com, Oxford University Press.

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  • George Economides & Dimitris Papageorgiou & Apostolis Philippopoulos & Vanghelis Vassilatos, 2013. "Smaller Public Sectors in the Euro Area: Aggregate and Distributional Implications," CESifo Economic Studies, CESifo Group, vol. 59(3), pages 536-558, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:cesifo:v:59:y:2013:i:3:p:536-558
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Stelios Sakkas & Petros Varthalitis, 2021. "Public Debt Consolidation and its Distributional Effects," Manchester School, University of Manchester, vol. 89(S1), pages 131-174, September.
    2. Philippopoulos, Apostolis & Varthalitis, Petros & Vassilatos, Vanghelis, 2017. "Fiscal consolidation and its cross-country effects," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 55-106.
    3. Dimitris Papageorgiou & Evangelia Vourvachaki, 2015. "The Macroeconomic Impact of Structural Reforms in Product and Labour Markets: Trade-Offs and Complementarities," Working Papers 197, Bank of Greece.
    4. George Economides & Dimitris Papageorgiou & Apostolis Philippopoulos & Vanghelis Vassilatos, 2013. "Smaller Public Sectors in the Euro Area: Aggregate and Distributional Implications," CESifo Economic Studies, CESifo Group, vol. 59(3), pages 536-558, September.
    5. Varthalitis, Petros, 2019. "FIR-GEM: A SOE-DSGE Model for fiscal policy analysis in Ireland," Papers WP620, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    6. George Economides & Dimitris Papageorgiou & Apostolis Philippopoulos, 2017. "The driving forces of the current Greek great depression," Working Papers 201703, Athens University Of Economics and Business, Department of Economics.
    7. Papageorgiou, Dimitris & Vourvachaki, Evangelia, 2017. "Macroeconomic effects of structural reforms and fiscal consolidations: Trade-offs and complementarities," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 54-73.
    8. Sakkas, Stelios & Varthalitis, Petros, 2018. "The (intertemporal) equity-efficiency trade-off of fiscal consolidation," MPRA Paper 90983, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Dimitris Papageorgiou, 2014. "BoGGEM: a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model for policy simulations," Working Papers 182, Bank of Greece.
    10. George Economides & Apostolis Philippopoulos & Petros Varthalitis, 2015. "Incentives to Work and Performance in the Public Sector," CESifo Working Paper Series 5193, CESifo.
    11. Panagiota Koliousi & Natasha Miaouli & Apostolis Philippopoulos, 2015. "Liberalization of product and labour markets: Winners and losers," Working Papers 201503, Athens University Of Economics and Business, Department of Economics.
    12. Economides, George & Philippopoulos, Apostolis & Vassilatos, Vanghelis, 2014. "Public, or private, providers of public goods? A dynamic general equilibrium study," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 303-327.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H10 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - General
    • H30 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - General
    • H20 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - General

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