Options for Fiscal Consolidation in the United Kingdom

24 Pages Posted: 17 May 2006

See all articles by Dennis P. J. Botman

Dennis P. J. Botman

International Monetary Fund (IMF) - Fiscal Affairs Department

Keiko Honjo

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Date Written: March 2006

Abstract

This paper examines the macroeconomic effects of different timing and composition of fiscal adjustment in the United Kingdom using the IMF's Global Fiscal Model. Early consolidation dampens aggregate demand in the short term, but increases output in the long term as smaller primary surpluses are needed as a result of lower interest payments. Reducing government transfers or current government spending provides larger gains than increasing taxes, in particular compared to raising corporate or personal income taxes. We show that these conclusions are robust under alternative behavioral assumptions and parameterizations. A reduction in global saving would make early consolidation more urgent from both cyclical and long-term perspectives. Finally, we show that tax reform aimed at increasing incentives to save could provide support to fiscal consolidation measures.

Keywords: Fiscal consolidation, finite lives, distortionary taxes, government debt

JEL Classification: E62, F41, F42, H20, H30, H63

Suggested Citation

Botman, Dennis P. J. and Honjo, Keiko, Options for Fiscal Consolidation in the United Kingdom (March 2006). IMF Working Paper No. 06/89, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=901880

Dennis P. J. Botman (Contact Author)

International Monetary Fund (IMF) - Fiscal Affairs Department ( email )

700 19th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20431
United States

Keiko Honjo

International Monetary Fund (IMF) ( email )

700 19th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20431
United States

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