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Do Tax Cuts Generate Twin Deficits? A Multi-Country Analysis

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  • Martin Boileau
  • Michel Normandin

Abstract

We study the effects of tax shocks on the budget and external deficits for 16 industrialized countries over the post-1975 period. Our structural approach is based on a tractable small open-economy model where a tax cut innovation generates a budget deficit. In turn, the budget deficit affects the external deficit by two distinct channels. The demographic channel works through the overlapping-generation structure of the model. The forecasting channel works through the dynamic structure of the model. Our empirical analysis documents that tax shocks generate significant positive comovements between the budget and external deficits. We also find that both the demographic and forecasting channels are important to explain the comovements.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Boileau & Michel Normandin, 2008. "Do Tax Cuts Generate Twin Deficits? A Multi-Country Analysis," Cahiers de recherche 0832, CIRPEE.
    • Handle: RePEc:lvl:lacicr:0832
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    Cited by:

    1. Rishav Bista & Josh Ederington & Jenny Minier & Brandon J. Sheridan, 2016. "Austerity and Exports," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(2), pages 203-225, May.
    2. Stephen Nicar, 2015. "International Spillovers from U.S. Fiscal Policy Shocks," Open Economies Review, Springer, vol. 26(5), pages 1081-1097, November.
    3. Afonso, António & Huart, Florence & Tovar Jalles, João & Stanek, Piotr, 2022. "Twin deficits revisited: A role for fiscal institutions?," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    4. Mathias Klein & Ludger Linnemann, 2019. "Tax and Spending Shocks in the Open Economy: Are the Deficits Twins?," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 1821, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    5. Normandin, Michel, 2011. "Déficits extérieur et budgétaire : jumeaux, petits cousins ou parfaits étrangers?," L'Actualité Economique, Société Canadienne de Science Economique, vol. 87(4), pages 407-443, décembre.
    6. Klein, Mathias & Linnemann, Ludger, 2019. "Tax and spending shocks in the open economy: Are the deficits twins?," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    7. Helena Glebocki Keefe & Ralf Hepp, 2024. "The effects of European fiscal discipline measures on current account balances," International Economics and Economic Policy, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 251-283, February.
    8. Shazia Kousar & Saeed Ahmad Sabir & Farhan Ahmed & Štefan Bojnec, 2022. "Climate Change, Exchange Rate, Twin Deficit, and Energy Inflation: Application of VAR Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-21, October.
    9. Klein, Mathias & Linnemann, Ludger, 2019. "Tax and spending shocks in the open economy: are the deficits twins?," Working Paper Series 377, Sveriges Riksbank (Central Bank of Sweden).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Budget Deficit; External Deficit; Fiscal Policy; Overlapping Generations;
    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
    • F32 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Current Account Adjustment; Short-term Capital Movements
    • F41 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Open Economy Macroeconomics

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