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Efficient Expropriation: Sustainable Fiscal Policy in a Small Open Economy

Author

Listed:
  • Mark Aguiar

    (Federal Reserve Bank of Boston)

  • Manuel Amador

    (Stanford University and Harvard University)

  • Gita Gopinath

    (Harvard University and NBER)

Abstract

We study a small open economy characterized by two empirically important frictions – incomplete financial markets and an inability of the government to commit to policy. We characterize the best sustainable fiscal policy and show that it can amplify and prolong shocks to output. In particular, even when the government is completely benevolent, the government's credibility not to expropriate capital endogenously varies with the state of the economy and may be "scarcest" during recessions. This increased threat of expropriation depresses investment, prolonging downturns. It is the incompleteness of financial markets and lack of commitment that generate investment cycles even in an environment where first best capital stock is constant.

Suggested Citation

  • Mark Aguiar & Manuel Amador & Gita Gopinath, 2006. "Efficient Expropriation: Sustainable Fiscal Policy in a Small Open Economy," Working Papers 2006-2, Princeton University. Economics Department..
    • Handle: RePEc:pri:econom:2006-2
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    File URL: https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/gopinath/files/expropriation.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. Catarina Reis, 2013. "Taxation without commitment," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 52(2), pages 565-588, March.
    2. Acemoglu, Daron & Golosov, Mikhail & Tsyvinski, Aleh, 2011. "Political economy of Ramsey taxation," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(7), pages 467-475.
    3. Ilzetzki, Ethan, 2011. "Rent-seeking distortions and fiscal procyclicality," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 96(1), pages 30-46, September.
    4. Marina Azzimonti-Renzo & Pierre-Daniel G. Sarte, 2007. "Barriers to foreign direct investment under political instability," Economic Quarterly, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, vol. 93(Sum), pages 287-315.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Open Economy; Financial Markets; Fiscal Policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F41 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Open Economy Macroeconomics
    • G10 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)
    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory

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