The Benefits of Crises for Economic Reforms

28 Pages Posted: 5 Jul 2004 Last revised: 22 Aug 2022

See all articles by Allan Drazen

Allan Drazen

University of Maryland - Department of Economics; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Vittorio Grilli

Independent; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Date Written: December 1990

Abstract

This paper presents a model in which economic crises have positive effects on welfare. Periods of very high inflation create the incentive for the resolution of social conflict and thus facilitate the introduction of economic reforms and the achievement of higher levels of welfare. Policies to reduce the cost of inflation, such as indexation, raise inflation and delay the adoption of reforms, but have no effect on expected social welfare.

Suggested Citation

Drazen, Allan and Grilli, Vittorio, The Benefits of Crises for Economic Reforms (December 1990). NBER Working Paper No. w3527, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=226828

Allan Drazen (Contact Author)

University of Maryland - Department of Economics ( email )

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Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

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United Kingdom

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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Vittorio Grilli

Independent

Ministero del Tesoro
Direzione Generale del Tesoro Capo del Servizio I via XX Settembre 97

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

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