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Fiscal Sustainability, Fiscal Reactions, Pitfalls and Determinants

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  • António Afonso
  • José Carlos Coelho

Abstract

We examine the sustainability of public finances and its determinants for 19 Eurozone countries from 1995 to 2020. We conclude for the existence of panel cointegration between government revenues and expenditures; primary government balance and one-period lagged public debt-to-GDP ratio; and public debt-to-GDP ratio and one-period lagged primary government balance. The estimated fiscal reaction functions suggest the existence of a Ricardian fiscal regime. Finally, modelling via time-varying coefficients, we find that fiscal sustainability increases with growth, fiscal balances and fiscal rules indices, and decreases with trade openness, current account balances, government effectiveness index, after 2010, and with sovereign ratings assigned by the main rating agencies.

Suggested Citation

  • António Afonso & José Carlos Coelho, 2022. "Fiscal Sustainability, Fiscal Reactions, Pitfalls and Determinants," CESifo Working Paper Series 9635, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_9635
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. António Afonso & Christophe Rault, 2010. "What do we really know about fiscal sustainability in the EU? A panel data diagnostic," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 145(4), pages 731-755, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Afonso, António & Alves, José & Monteiro, Sofia, 2024. "Sovereign risk dynamics in the EU: The time varying relevance of fiscal and external (im)balances," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    2. António Afonso & José Alves & Olegs Matvejevs & Olegs Tkacevs, 2023. "Fiscal Sustainability and the Role of Inflation," Working Papers REM 2023/0303, ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management, REM, Universidade de Lisboa.
    3. Dascher-Preising, Fabienne & Greiner, Alfred, 2023. "Monetary-fiscal policy relations in the euro area: The impact on the primary balance," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 1-9.
    4. António Afonso & José Alves & José Carlos Coelho, 2023. "Determinants of the degree of fiscal sustainability," Working Papers REM 2023/0255, ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management, REM, Universidade de Lisboa.
    5. Fir Nejc, 2024. "Assessing Fiscal Sustainability with Panel Unit Root, Cointegration, and Granger Causality Tests: Evidence from the Broader Groups of Countries," Naše gospodarstvo/Our economy, Sciendo, vol. 70(3), pages 1-20.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    fiscal sustainability; budget balance; public debt; panel data; time-varying coefficients; Eurozone; sovereign ratings;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • H61 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - Budget; Budget Systems
    • H63 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - Debt; Debt Management; Sovereign Debt
    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory

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