The fiscal root of inflation

B-Tier
Journal: Review of Economic Dynamics
Year: 2022
Volume: 45
Pages: 22-40

Score contribution per author:

2.018 = (α=2.02 / 1 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

Unexpected inflation devalues nominal government bonds. It must therefore correspond to a decline in expected future surpluses, or a rise in their discount rates, so that the real value of debt equals the present value of surpluses. I measure each component using a vector autoregression, via responses to inflation, recession, surplus and discount rate shocks. Discount rates account for much inflation variation, for the cyclical pattern of inflation, and why persistent deficits often do not cause inflation. Long-term debt is important. In response to a fiscal shock, smooth inflation slowly devalues outstanding long-term bonds. (Copyright: Elsevier)

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:red:issued:20-493
Journal Field
Macro
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-25