On Measuring the Effects of Fiscal Policy in Recessions
21 Jul 2011-Journal of Economic Literature (National Bureau of Economic Research)-Vol. 49, Iss: 3, pp 703-718
TL;DR: In this article, the authors show that the methods that we use to estimate the effects of fiscal policy, both those using the observed outcomes following different policies in aggregate data and those studying counterfactuals in fitted model economies, almost entirely ignore the state of the economy and estimate "the" government multiplier.
Abstract: We do not have a good measure of the effects of fiscal policy in a recession because the methods that we use to estimate the effects of fiscal policy—both those using the observed outcomes following different policies in aggregate data and those studying counterfactuals in fitted model economies—almost entirely ignore the state of the economy and estimate "the" government multiplier, which is presumably a weighted average of the one we care about—the multiplier in a recession—and one we care less about—the multiplier in an expansion. Notable exceptions to this general claim sug gest this difference is potentially large. Our lack of knowledge stems significantly from the focus on linear dynamics: vector autoregressions and linearized (or close-to-linear) dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) models. Our lack of knowledge also reflects a lack of data: deep recessions are few and nonlinearities hard to measure. The lack of statistical power in the estimation of nonlinear models using aggregate data can be addressed by exploiting estimates of partial-equilibrium responses in disaggregated data. Microeconomic estimates of the partial-equilibrium causal effects of a policy can discipline the causal channels inherent in any DSGE model of the general equilibrium effects of policy. Microeconomic studies can also provide measures of the dependence of the effects of a policy on the states of different agents, which is a key component of the dependence of the general-equilibrium effects of fiscal policy on the state of the
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TL;DR: This paper investigated the impact of tax changes on economic activity and found that tax increases are highly contractionary and that the behavior of output following these more exogenous changes indicates that the effects of tax increases were strongly significant, highly robust, and much larger than those obtained using broader measures of tax change.
Abstract: This paper investigates the impact of tax changes on economic activity. We use the narrative record, such as presidential speeches and Congressional reports, to identify the size, timing, and principal motivation for all major post war tax policy actions. This analysis allows us to separate legislated changes into those taken for reasons related to prospective economic conditions and those taken for more exogenous reasons. The behavior of output following these more exogenous changes indicates that tax increases are highly contractionary. The effects are strongly significant, highly robust, and much larger than those obtained using broader measures of tax changes. (JEL E32, E62, H20, N12) Tax changes have been a major public policy issue in recent years. The tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 were passed amid firestorms of debate about their likely effects. Some policymakers claimed that the cuts would both stimulate the economy in the short run and increase normal output in the long run. Others argued that they would raise interest rates and lower confidence and thereby reduce output in both the short run and the long run. That views of the effects of tax changes vary so radically largely reflects the fact that measuring these effects is very difficult. Tax changes occur for many reasons. Some legislated tax changes are passed for philosophical reasons or to reduce an inherited budget deficit. Others are passed because the economy is weak and predicted to fall further, or because a war is in progress and government spending is rising. And many tax changes are not legislated at all, but occur automatically because the tax base varies with the overall level of income, or because of changes in stock prices, inflation, and other nonpolicy forces. Because the factors that give rise to tax changes are often correlated with other developments in the economy, disentangling the effects of the tax changes from the effects of these underlying factors is inherently difficult. There is pervasive omitted variable bias in any regression of output on an aggregate measure of tax changes. This paper suggests one way of dealing with this omitted variable bias. There exists a vast narrative record describing the history and motivation of tax policy changes. We first use this narrative history to separate legislated tax changes from those arising from nonpolicy develop ments. We then use the information on motivation to separate the legislated tax changes into those that are likely to be contaminated by other developments affecting output, and those that can legitimately be used to measure the macroeconomic effects of tax changes. Finally, we use the legitimate observations to derive estimates of the effects of tax changes on output that are likely to be less biased than previous estimates. Section I of the paper elaborates on the conceptual framework for this study. It emphasizes that what we seek to identify from the narrative record are tax changes that are not systematically
1,932 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explain the key factors that determine the output multiplier of government purchases in New Keynesian models, through a series of simple examples that can be solved analytically.
Abstract: This paper explains the key factors that determine the output multiplier of government purchases in New Keynesian models, through a series of simple examples that can be solved analytically. Sticky prices or wages allow for larger multipliers than in a neoclassical model, though the size of the multiplier depends crucially on the monetary policy response. A multiplier well in excess of 1 is possible when monetary policy is constrained by the zero lower bound, and in this case welfare increases if government purchases expand to partially flll the output gap that arises from the inability to lower interest rates.
879 citations
TL;DR: This paper examined the macroeconomic dynamics of the 2007-09 recession in the United States and the subsequent slow recovery using a dynamic factor model with 200 variables and reached three main conclusions: although many of the events of 2007-2009 collapse were unprecedented, their net effect was to produce macro shocks that were larger versions of shocks previously experienced, to which the economy responded in a historically predictable way.
Abstract: This paper examines the macroeconomic dynamics of the 2007–09 recession in the United States and the subsequent slow recovery. Using a dynamic factor model with 200 variables, we reach three main conclusions. First, although many of the events of the 2007–09 collapse were unprecedented, their net effect was to produce macro shocks that were larger versions of shocks previously experienced, to which the economy responded in a historically predictable way. Second, the shocks that produced the recession were primarily associated with financial disruptions and heightened uncertainty, although oil shocks played a role in the initial slowdown, and subsequent drag was added by effectively tight conventional monetary policy arising from the zero lower bound. Third, although the slow nature of the recovery is partly due to the shocks of this recession, most of the slow recovery in employment, and nearly all of the slow recovery in output, is due to a secular slowdown in trend labor force growth.
775 citations
Cites background from "On Measuring the Effects of Fiscal ..."
...For additional discussion see Parker (2011) and Ramey (2011b)....
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22 Mar 2012
TL;DR: In a depressed economy, with short-term nominal interest rates at their zero lower bound, ample cyclical unemployment, and excess capacity, increased government purchases would be neither offset by the monetary authority raising interest rates nor neutralized by supply-side bottlenecks.
Abstract: In a depressed economy, with short-term nominal interest rates at their zero lower bound, ample cyclical unemployment, and excess capacity, increased government purchases would be neither offset by the monetary authority raising interest rates nor neutralized by supply-side bottlenecks Then even a small amount of hysteresis—even a small shadow cast on future potential output by the cyclical downturn—means, by simple arithmetic, that expansionary fiscal policy is likely to be self-financing Even if it is not, it is highly likely to pass the sensible benefit-cost test of raising the present value of future potential output Thus, at the zero bound, where the central bank cannot or will not but in any event does not perform its full role in stabilization policy, fiscal policy has the stabilization policy mission that others have convincingly argued it lacks in normal times Whereas many economists have assumed that the path of potential output is invariant to even a deep and prolonged downturn, the available evidence raises a strong fear that hysteresis is indeed a factor Although nothing in our analysis calls into question the importance of sustainable fiscal policies, it strongly suggests the need for caution regarding the pace of fiscal consolidation
756 citations
TL;DR: The authors assess the likely range of multiplier values for the experiment most relevant to the stimulus package debate: a temporary, deficit-financed increase in government purchases, and conclude that the multiplier for this type of spending is probably between 0.8 and 1.5.
Abstract: This essay briefly reviews the state of knowledge about the government spending multiplier. Drawing on theoretical work, aggregate empirical estimates from the United States, as well as cross-locality estimates, I assess the likely range of multiplier values for the experiment most relevant to the stimulus package debate: a temporary, deficit-financed increase in government purchases. I conclude that the multiplier for this type of spending is probably between 0.8 and 1.5. ( JEL E23, E62, H50)
719 citations
References
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that the style in which their builders construct claims for a connection between these models and reality is inappropriate, to the point at which claims for identification in these models cannot be taken seriously.
Abstract: Existing strategies for econometric analysis related to macroeconomics are subject to a number of serious objections, some recently formulated, some old. These objections are summarized in this paper, and it is argued that taken together they make it unlikely that macroeconomic models are in fact over identified, as the existing statistical theory usually assumes. The implications of this conclusion are explored, and an example of econometric work in a non-standard style, taking account of the objections to the standard style, is presented. THE STUDY OF THE BUSINESS cycle, fluctuations in aggregate measures of economic activity and prices over periods from one to ten years or so, constitutes or motivates a large part of what we call macroeconomics. Most economists would agree that there are many macroeconomic variables whose cyclical fluctuations are of interest, and would agree further that fluctuations in these series are interrelated. It would seem to follow almost tautologically that statistical models involving large numbers of macroeconomic variables ought to be the arena within which macroeconomic theories confront reality and thereby each other. Instead, though large-scale statistical macroeconomic models exist and are by some criteria successful, a deep vein of skepticism about the value of these models runs through that part of the economics profession not actively engaged in constructing or using them. It is still rare for empirical research in macroeconomics to be planned and executed within the framework of one of the large models. In this lecture I intend to discuss some aspects of this situation, attempting both to offer some explanations and to suggest some means for improvement. I will argue that the style in which their builders construct claims for a connection between these models and reality-the style in which "identification" is achieved for these models-is inappropriate, to the point at which claims for identification in these models cannot be taken seriously. This is a venerable assertion; and there are some good old reasons for believing it;2 but there are also some reasons which have been more recently put forth. After developing the conclusion that the identification claimed for existing large-scale models is incredible, I will discuss what ought to be done in consequence. The line of argument is: large-scale models do perform useful forecasting and policy-analysis functions despite their incredible identification; the restrictions imposed in the usual style of identification are neither essential to constructing a model which can perform these functions nor innocuous; an alternative style of identification is available and practical. Finally we will look at some empirical work based on an alternative style of macroeconometrics. A six-variable dynamic system is estimated without using 1 Research for this paper was supported by NSF Grant Soc-76-02482. Lars Hansen executed the computations. The paper has benefited from comments by many people, especially Thomas J. Sargent
11,195 citations
"On Measuring the Effects of Fiscal ..." refers methods in this paper
...12For example, this is the view with respect to monetary policy of Sims (1980) and Leeper, Sims, and Zha (1996), less explicitly in Romer and Romer (2010), and in much of the debate over the size of the multiplier in early 2009....
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Posted Content•
TL;DR: The authors constructs a simple neoclassical model of intrinsic business cycle dynamics in which borrowers' balance sheet positions play an important role and shows that the agency costs of undertaking physical investments are inversely related to the entrepreneur's/borrower's net worth.
Abstract: This paper constructs a simple neoclassical model of intrinsic business cycle dynamics in which borrowers' balance sheet positions play an important role. The critical insight is that the agency costs of undertaking physical investments are inversely related to the entrepreneur's/borrower's net worth. As a result, accelerator effects on investment emerge: Strengthened borrower balance sheets resulting from good times expand investment demand, which in turn tends to amplify the upturn; weakened balance sheets in bad times do just the opposite. Further, redistributions or other shocks that affect borrowers' balance sheets (as in a debt-deflation} may have aggregate real effects.
4,286 citations
TL;DR: The authors developed a simple neoclassical model of the business cycle in which the condition of borrowers' balance sheets is a source of output dynamics, and the mechanism is that higher borrower net worth reduces the agency costs of financing real capital investments.
Abstract: This paper develops a simple neoclassical model of the business cycle in which the condition of borrowers' balance sheets is a source of output dynamics. The mechanism is that higher borrower net worth reduces the agency costs of financing real capital investments. Business upturns improve net worth, lower agency costs, and increase investment, which amplifies the upturn; vice versa, for downturns. Shocks that affect net worth (as in a debt-deflation) can initiate fluctuations. Copyright 1989 by American Economic Association.
3,795 citations
"On Measuring the Effects of Fiscal ..." refers background in this paper
...In the canonical macroeconomic model with financial frictions, Bernanke and Gertler (1989), the constraints always bind so that the model is close to linear — the constraint moves amplifying fluctuations but dynamics are linear. Older work contains nonlinearities: Mankiw (1986) for example contains an important nonlinearity but is not readily estimable. And much current work is incorporating occassionally-binding constraints into macroeconomic models and studying non-linear effects. See Brunnermeier and Sannikov (2011) for an example with financial constraints. 22Not that all issues have been resolved, just that many issues have been nicely resolved. 23I use the term independence in the sense used by Prescott (1986)....
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...In the canonical macroeconomic model with financial frictions, Bernanke and Gertler (1989), the constraints always bind so that the model is close to linear — the constraint moves amplifying fluctuations but dynamics are linear. Older work contains nonlinearities: Mankiw (1986) for example contains an important nonlinearity but is not readily estimable. And much current work is incorporating occassionally-binding constraints into macroeconomic models and studying non-linear effects. See Brunnermeier and Sannikov (2011) for an example with financial constraints....
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...In the canonical macroeconomic model with financial frictions, Bernanke and Gertler (1989), the constraints always bind so that the model is close to linear — the constraint moves amplifying fluctuations but dynamics are linear. Older work contains nonlinearities: Mankiw (1986) for example contains an important nonlinearity but is not readily estimable....
[...]
...In the canonical macroeconomic model with financial frictions, Bernanke and Gertler (1989), the constraints always bind so that the model is close to linear — the constraint moves amplifying fluctuations but dynamics are linear....
[...]
Posted Content•
TL;DR: The authors reviewed recent research that grapples with the question: What happens after an exogenous shock to monetary policy? They argue that this question is interesting because it lies at the center of a particular approach to assessing the empirical plausibility of structural economic models that can be used to think about systematic changes in monetary policy institutions and rules.
Abstract: This paper reviews recent research that grapples with the question: What happens after an exogenous shock to monetary policy? We argue that this question is interesting because it lies at the center of a particular approach to assessing the empirical plausibility of structural economic models that can be used to think about systematic changes in monetary policy institutions and rules. The literature has not yet converged on a particular set of assumptions for identifying the effects of an exogenous shock to monetary policy. Nevertheless, there is considerable agreement about the qualitative effects of a monetary policy shock in the sense that inference is robust across a large subset of the identification schemes that have been considered in the literature. We document the nature of this agreement as it pertains to key economic aggregates.
2,803 citations
"On Measuring the Effects of Fiscal ..." refers background in this paper
...Auerbach and Gorodnichenko (2010) finds that multipliers are similar on impact in reces14This methodology and issues originate as discussions in the literature on monetary policy, see Rotemberg and Woodford (1997) and Christiano, Eichenbaum, and Evans (1998)....
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the standard growth model modified to include precautionary saving motives and liquidity constraints, and address the impact on the aggregate saving rate, the importance of asset trading to individuals, and the relative inequality of wealth and income distributions.
Abstract: We present a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the standard growth model modified to include precautionary saving motives and liquidity constraints. We address the impact on the aggregate saving rate, the importance of asset trading to individuals, and the relative inequality of wealth and income distributions.
2,738 citations
"On Measuring the Effects of Fiscal ..." refers background in this paper
...Huntley and Michelangeli (2010) studies a heterogeneous-agent economy with incomplete markets and borrowing constraints (as in Aiyagari (1994))....
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