Appropriate Fiscal Policy Over the Business Cycle: Proper Stimulus Policies Can Work

17 Pages Posted: 19 Aug 2010

See all articles by Philip E. Graves

Philip E. Graves

University of Colorado at Boulder - Department of Economics

Multiple version iconThere are 3 versions of this paper

Date Written: August 19, 2010

Abstract

Fiscal policy has become quite controversial in the post-Keynesian era, the debate over the Obama stimulus package being a contentious recent example. Some pundits go so far as to take the position that macroeconomic theory has failed to meaningfully progress in terms of providing useful recommendations for policy-makers, particularly in times of recession. Others take the laissez-faire view that policy reactions to the business cycle do not help in a rational expectations world and indeed do harm by increasing uncertainty. Still others, while not necessarily viewing themselves as in any sense “Keynesian,” have a nagging feeling that sometimes doing nothing must be worse than doing something…but what to do? Sensible guidance is provided here on how governments should spend taxpayer dollars and on how that spending should change under varying economic conditions. The nature of public goods, namely whether they are complements, substitutes, or neutral to private goods, is seen to be critical to such decisions.

Keywords: Fiscal Policy, Business Cycles, Public Goods, Recessions, Boomtimes

JEL Classification: E12, E13, E32, E61, E62, E66, H11, H30, H50

Suggested Citation

Graves, Philip E., Appropriate Fiscal Policy Over the Business Cycle: Proper Stimulus Policies Can Work (August 19, 2010). CESifo Working Paper No. 3160, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1661759 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1661759

Philip E. Graves (Contact Author)

University of Colorado at Boulder - Department of Economics ( email )

Campus Box 256
Boulder, CO 80309-0256
United States

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