Local Deficits and Local Jobs: Can U.S. States Stabilize Their Own Economies?

42 Pages Posted: 29 Mar 2013 Last revised: 24 Mar 2023

See all articles by Gerald A. Carlino

Gerald A. Carlino

Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

Robert P. Inman

University of Pennsylvania - Finance Department; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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Date Written: March 2013

Abstract

Using a sample of the 48 mainland U.S. states for the period 1973-2009, we study the ability of U.S. states to expand own state employment through the use of state deficit policies. The analysis allows for the facts that U.S. states are part of a wider monetary and economic union with free factor mobility across all states and that state residents and firms may purchase goods from "neighboring" states. Those purchases may generate economic spillovers across neighbors. Estimates suggest that states can increase own state employment by increasing their own deficits. There is evidence of spillovers to employment in neighboring states defined by common cyclical patterns among state economies. For large states, aggregate spillovers to its economic neighbors are approximately two-thirds of own state job growth. Because of significant spillovers and possible incentives to free-ride, there is a potential case to actively coordinate (i.e., centralize) the management of stabilization policies. Finally, job effects of a temporary increase in state own deficits persist for at most one to two years and there is evidence of negative job effects when these deficits are scheduled for repayment.

Suggested Citation

Carlino, Gerald A. and Inman, Robert P., Local Deficits and Local Jobs: Can U.S. States Stabilize Their Own Economies? (March 2013). NBER Working Paper No. w18930, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2241398

Gerald A. Carlino (Contact Author)

Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia ( email )

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Robert P. Inman

University of Pennsylvania - Finance Department ( email )

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