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How Sensitive is the Public Budget Balance to Cyclical Fluctuations in the EU?

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  • Virén, Matti

Abstract

This paper discusses the fiscal behaviour of EU countries in 1972-1999. It attempts to find out how deficits adjust to changes in interest rates and output growth by examining the hypothesis that the reaction of deficits to output growth is non-linear: relatively small in "good times" and quite substantial in depressions. This hypothesis is tested using pooled cross-country data for 14 EU countries. All test results give support for the hypothesis, which suggests that nonlinearity is an essential ingredient of the fiscal policy transmission mechanism. The paper also discusses some explanations and policy implications of this finding. It is also found that overall deficits are quite sensitive to output fluctuations. This result appears to be quite robust in terms of different model specifications and estimation methods. The sensitiveness seems to be related to the size of the public sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Virén, Matti, 2000. "How Sensitive is the Public Budget Balance to Cyclical Fluctuations in the EU?," Discussion Papers 230, VATT Institute for Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:fer:dpaper:230
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    File URL: https://www.doria.fi/handle/10024/148128
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. Matti Virén, 1998. "Do the OECD Countries Follow the Same Fiscal Policy Rule?," Discussion Papers 186, Government Institute for Economic Research Finland (VATT).
    7. Buti, Marco & Franco, Daniele & Ongena, Hedwig, 1998. "Fiscal Discipline and Flexibility in EMU: The Implementation of the Stability and Growth Pact," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press and Oxford Review of Economic Policy Limited, vol. 14(3), pages 81-97, Autumn.
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    Cited by:

    1. Eliza Lis & Christiane Nickel, 2010. "The impact of extreme weather events on budget balances," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 17(4), pages 378-399, August.
    2. Eleftherios Giovanis & Oznur Ozdamar, 2022. "The impact of climate change on budget balances and debt in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 172(3), pages 1-27, June.
    3. VirÉn, Matti, 2000. "Fiscal Policy, Automatic Stabilisers and Policy Coordination in EMU," Discussion Papers 744, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.
    4. Lis, Eliza & Nickel, Christiane, 2009. "The impact of extreme weather events on budget balances and implications for fiscal policy," Working Paper Series 1055, European Central Bank.
    5. Mika Tujula & Guido Wolswijk, 2007. "Budget balances in OECD countries: what makes them change?," Empirica, Springer;Austrian Institute for Economic Research;Austrian Economic Association, vol. 34(1), pages 1-14, March.

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