A comparison of debt and primary-deficit constraints

Authors
Publication date 2008
Series CEPR discussion paper series, 6897
Number of pages 38
Publisher London: Centre for Economic Policy Research
Organisations
  • Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) - Amsterdam School of Economics Research Institute (ASE-RI)
Abstract This paper compares constraints on the public debt with constraints on the primary deficit. The analysis takes into account how an optimizing government reacts to the different constraints when deciding on a spending and borrowing plan. We find that the economy behaves similarly under both constraints, although for our benchmark calibration welfare is higher under the debt constraint. Further, the debt constraint is more robust against changes in the interest rate. Our results lend support to the enhanced focus on the public debt after the recent reform of the Stability and Growth Pact.
Document type Working paper
Published at http://www.cepr.org/pubs/dps/DP6897.asp
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