The Political Economy of Budget Deficits

The Political Economy of Budget Deficits

Author: Mr.Alberto Alesina

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 1994-08-01

Total Pages: 48

ISBN-13: 1451850689

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This paper provides a critical survey of the literature on politico-institutional determinants of the government budget. We organize our discussion around two questions: Why did certain OECD countries, but not others, accumulate large public debts? Why did these fiscal imbalances appear in the last 20 years rather than before? We begin by discussing the “tax smoothing” model and conclude that this approach alone cannot provide complete answers to these questions. We will then proceed to a discussion of political economy models, which we organize in six groups: (i) models based upon opportunistic policymakers and naive voters with “fiscal illusion;” (ii) models of intergenerational redistributions; (iii) models of debt as a strategic variable, linking the current government with the next one; (iv) models of coalition governments; (v) models of geographically dispersed interests; and (vi) models emphasizing the effects of budgetary institutions. We conclude by briefly discussing policy implications.


United States Code

United States Code

Author: United States

Publisher:

Published: 2013

Total Pages: 1200

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

"The United States Code is the official codification of the general and permanent laws of the United States of America. The Code was first published in 1926, and a new edition of the code has been published every six years since 1934. The 2012 edition of the Code incorporates laws enacted through the One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Second Session, the last of which was signed by the President on January 15, 2013. It does not include laws of the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, enacted between January 2, 2013, the date it convened, and January 15, 2013. By statutory authority this edition may be cited "U.S.C. 2012 ed." As adopted in 1926, the Code established prima facie the general and permanent laws of the United States. The underlying statutes reprinted in the Code remained in effect and controlled over the Code in case of any discrepancy. In 1947, Congress began enacting individual titles of the Code into positive law. When a title is enacted into positive law, the underlying statutes are repealed and the title then becomes legal evidence of the law. Currently, 26 of the 51 titles in the Code have been so enacted. These are identified in the table of titles near the beginning of each volume. The Law Revision Counsel of the House of Representatives continues to prepare legislation pursuant to 2 U.S.C. 285b to enact the remainder of the Code, on a title-by-title basis, into positive law. The 2012 edition of the Code was prepared and published under the supervision of Ralph V. Seep, Law Revision Counsel. Grateful acknowledgment is made of the contributions by all who helped in this work, particularly the staffs of the Office of the Law Revision Counsel and the Government Printing Office"--Preface.


Fiscal Adjustment for Stability and Growth

Fiscal Adjustment for Stability and Growth

Author: Mr.James Daniel

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2006-08-17

Total Pages: 80

ISBN-13: 9781589065130

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The pamphlet (which updates the 1995 Guidelines for Fiscal Adjustment) presents the IMF’s approach to fiscal adjustment, and focuses on the role that sound government finances play in promoting macroeconomic stability and growth. Structured around five practical questions—when to adjust, how to assess the fiscal position, what makes for successful adjustment, how to carry out adjustment, and which institutions can help—it covers topics such as tax policies, debt sustainability, fiscal responsibility laws, and transparency.


The Federal Reserve System Purposes and Functions

The Federal Reserve System Purposes and Functions

Author: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

Publisher:

Published: 2002

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780894991967

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Provides an in-depth overview of the Federal Reserve System, including information about monetary policy and the economy, the Federal Reserve in the international sphere, supervision and regulation, consumer and community affairs and services offered by Reserve Banks. Contains several appendixes, including a brief explanation of Federal Reserve regulations, a glossary of terms, and a list of additional publications.


Fiscal Policy, Stabilization, and Growth

Fiscal Policy, Stabilization, and Growth

Author: Guillermo E. Perry

Publisher: World Bank Publications

Published: 2007-10-19

Total Pages: 354

ISBN-13: 0821370855

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Fiscal policy in Latin America has been guided primarily by short-term liquidity targets whose observance was taken as the main exponent of fiscal prudence, with attention focused almost exclusively on the levels of public debt and the cash deficit. Very little attention was paid to the effects of fiscal policy on growth and on macroeconomic volatility over the cycle. Important issues such as the composition of public expenditures (and its effects on growth), the ability of fiscal policy to stabilize cyclical fluctuations, and the currency composition of public debt were largely neglected. As a result, fiscal policy has often amplified cyclical volatility and dampened growth. 'Fiscal Policy, Stabilization, and Growth' explores the conduct of fiscal policy in Latin America and its consequences for macroeconomic stability and long-term growth. In particular, the book highlights the procyclical and anti-investment biases embedded in the region's fiscal policies, explores their causes and macroeconomic consequences, and asesses their possible solutions.


Global Financial Stability Report, April 2012

Global Financial Stability Report, April 2012

Author: International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2012-04-18

Total Pages: 94

ISBN-13: 1616352477

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The April 2012 Global Financial Stability Report assesses changes in risks to financial stability over the past six months, focusing on sovereign vulnerabilities, risks stemming from private sector deleveraging, and assessing the continued resilience of emerging markets. The report probes the implications of recent reforms in the financial system for market perception of safe assets, and investigates the growing public and private costs of increased longevity risk from aging populations.


Global Financial Stability Report, October 2017

Global Financial Stability Report, October 2017

Author: International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Financial Systems Dept.

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2017-10-11

Total Pages: 139

ISBN-13: 1484308395

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The October 2017 Global Financial Stability Report finds that the global financial system continues to strengthen in response to extraordinary policy support, regulatory enhancements, and the cyclical upturn in growth. It also includes a chapter that examines the short- and medium-term implications for economic growth and financial stability of the past decades’ rise in household debt. It documents large differences in household debt-to-GDP ratios across countries but a common increasing trajectory that was moderated but not reversed by the global financial crisis. Another chapter develops a new macroeconomic measure of financial stability by linking financial conditions to the probability distribution of future GDP growth and applies it to a set of 20 major advanced and emerging market economies. The chapter shows that changes in financial conditions shift the whole distribution of future GDP growth.


Global Financial Stability Report, April 2016

Global Financial Stability Report, April 2016

Author: International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2016-04-11

Total Pages: 135

ISBN-13: 1498363288

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The current Global Financial Stability Report (April 2016) finds that global financial stability risks have risen since the last report in October 2015. The new report finds that the outlook has deteriorated in advanced economies because of heightened uncertainty and setbacks to growth and confidence, while declines in oil and commodity prices and slower growth have kept risks elevated in emerging markets. These developments have tightened financial conditions, reduced risk appetite, raised credit risks, and stymied balance sheet repair. A broad-based policy response is needed to secure financial stability. Advanced economies must deal with crisis legacy issues, emerging markets need to bolster their resilience to global headwinds, and the resilience of market liquidity should be enhanced. The report also examines financial spillovers from emerging market economies and finds that they have risen substantially. This implies that when assessing macro-financial conditions, policymakers may need to increasingly take into account economic developments in emerging market economies. Finally, the report assesses changes in the systemic importance of insurers, finding that across advanced economies the contribution of life insurers to systemic risk has increased in recent years. The results suggest that supervisors and regulators should take a more macroprudential approach to the sector.


Financial Stability and Depositor Protection

Financial Stability and Depositor Protection

Author: Great Britain. Treasury

Publisher: The Stationery Office

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 172

ISBN-13: 9780101743624

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This is a further consultation paper on financial stability and depositor protection in the UK (Cm.7436, ISBN 9780101743624), and follows on from an earlier consultation document published in January (Cm. 7308, ISBN 9780101730822). The Command Paper published in January summarised the actions being taken by the Treasury, the Financial Services Authority and the Bank of England in response to the disruption being experienced in the global financial markets. Five key objectives were set out: (1) Stregthening the stability and reliance of the financial system; (2) Reducing the likelihood of individual banks facing difficulties; (3) Reducing the impact, when banks do experience difficulties; (4) Providing effective compensation arrangements; (5) Strengthening the Bank of England. A full summary of the proposals to meet the above objectives is set out in the first chapter of this follow-up consultation, with the remainder of the document examining the January proposals in detail.