Voting on the Budget Deficit

27 Pages Posted: 4 Jul 2004 Last revised: 16 Jan 2022

See all articles by Guido Tabellini

Guido Tabellini

Bocconi University - Department of Economics; Bocconi University - IGIER - Innocenzo Gasparini Institute for Economic Research; Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute for Economic Research (CESifo)

Alberto F. Alesina

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

Date Written: November 1988

Abstract

This paper analyzes a model in which different rational individuals vote over the composition and time profile of public spending. Potential disagreement between current and future majorities generates instability in the social choice function that aggregates individual preferences. In equilibrium a majority of the voters may favor a budget deficit. The size of the deficit under majority rule tends to be larger the greater is the polarization between current and potential future majorities. The paper also shows that the ex-ante efficient equilibrium of this model involves a balanced budget. A balanced budget amendment, however, is not durable under majority rule.

Suggested Citation

Tabellini, Guido and Alesina, Alberto F., Voting on the Budget Deficit (November 1988). NBER Working Paper No. w2759, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=447203

Guido Tabellini

Bocconi University - Department of Economics ( email )

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Bocconi University - IGIER - Innocenzo Gasparini Institute for Economic Research ( email )

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Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute for Economic Research (CESifo)

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Alberto F. Alesina (Contact Author)

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