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Fiscal Stimulus and Distortionary Taxation

Author

Listed:
  • Thorsten Drautzburg

    (Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia)

  • Harald Uhlig

    (University of Chicago)

Abstract

We quantify the fiscal multipliers in response to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. We extend the benchmark medium-scale New Keynesian model, allowing for credit-constrained households, the zero lower bound, government capital, and distortionary taxation. The posterior yields modestly positive short-run multipliers around 0.53 and modestly negative long-run multipliers around −0.36. We compare and relate recent literature multiplier calculations to ours. We explain the central empirical findings with the help of a simple three equation New Keynesian model with sticky wages and credit-constrained households. (Copyright: Elsevier)

Suggested Citation

  • Thorsten Drautzburg & Harald Uhlig, 2015. "Fiscal Stimulus and Distortionary Taxation," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 18(4), pages 894-920, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:red:issued:14-44
    DOI: 10.1016/j.red.2015.09.003
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Fiscal stimulus; New Keynesian model; Liquidity trap; Zero lower bound; Fiscal multiplier;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • E63 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Comparative or Joint Analysis of Fiscal and Monetary Policy; Stabilization; Treasury Policy
    • E65 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Studies of Particular Policy Episodes
    • H20 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - General
    • H62 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - Deficit; Surplus

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