Fiscal Policy and Interest Rates in Europe

32 Pages Posted: 17 Apr 2012

See all articles by Riccardo Faini

Riccardo Faini

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: April 1, 2004

Abstract

The paper by Faini focuses on the relationship between fiscal policy and interest rates. With reference to the European context, the paper addresses two issues. First, it investigates whether national fiscal policies either affect country specific spreads or the average level of euro-area interests rates. Only in the latter case there are significant externalities on the area from national misbehaviour. Second, it discusses whether this negative externality is likely to be more important for high-debt countries. The empirical analysis shows that while national fiscal policy has a limited impact on spreads, it has a more important impact on the area interest rates. Moreover, lack of fiscal discipline in high debt countries has a stronger impact on interest rates. Nevertheless, the problem is not high debt per se, but high debt together with lack of fiscal discipline.

Suggested Citation

Faini, Riccardo, Fiscal Policy and Interest Rates in Europe (April 1, 2004). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2040815 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2040815

Riccardo Faini (Contact Author)

affiliation not provided to SSRN

No Address Available

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
142
Abstract Views
3,433
Rank
368,681
PlumX Metrics