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Government revenue from financial repression

Author

Listed:
  • Giovannini, Alberto
  • de Melo, Martha

Abstract

This paper explores the theoretical underpinnings and empirical relevance to public finance of financial repression - of controls on international capital flows and on domestic financial intermediaries. It concludes, in principle, countries should not resort to financial repression when they face no constraints on taxation, but such constraints as administrative cost and income distribution objectives might justify an implicit tax on domestic financial markets. The revenue from financial repression can be substantial. The unweighted cross-country average is about 2 percent of GDP and 9 percent of total government revenue, but varies significantly among countries. Reform aimed at liberalizing financial markets should first estimate what amount of government revenue comes from financial repression and provide for the revenue shortfall that will result from financial liberalization. Finally, this paper concludes that countries with higher rates of inflation tend to raise more revenue from financial repressions because the relative costs of foreign and domestic borrowing are influenced by the domestic currency's rate of depreciation, since domestic nominal interest rates are normally fixed administratively.

Suggested Citation

  • Giovannini, Alberto & de Melo, Martha, 1990. "Government revenue from financial repression," Policy Research Working Paper Series 533, The World Bank.
  • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:533
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Easterly, William R., 1989. "Fiscal adjustment and deficit financing during the debt crisis," Policy Research Working Paper Series 138, The World Bank.
    2. Dornbusch, Rudiger & Reynoso, Alejandro, 1989. "Financial Factors in Economic Development," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 79(2), pages 204-209, May.
    3. Giovannini, Alberto, 1985. "Saving and the real interest rate in LDCs," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 18(2-3), pages 197-217, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Easterly, William & da Cunha, Paulo Viera & DEC, 1994. "Financing the storm : macroeconomic crisis in Russia, 1992-93," Policy Research Working Paper Series 1240, The World Bank.
    2. Kun, János, 1996. "Seigniorage és az államadósság terhei I. A fogalom történeti fejlődése [Seigniorage and the burdens of the state debt]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(9), pages 783-804.
    3. Sajad Ahmad Bhat & Bandi Kamaiah, 2021. "Fiscal policy and macroeconomic effects: structural macroeconometric model and simulation analysis," Journal of Social and Economic Development, Springer;Institute for Social and Economic Change, vol. 23(1), pages 81-105, June.
    4. John Roberts, 1992. "Seignorage and Resource Mobilization in Socialist Ethiopia," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 10(3), pages 271-288, September.
    5. King, Robert G. & Levine, Ross, 1992. "Financial indicators and growth in a cross section of countries," Policy Research Working Paper Series 819, The World Bank.

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