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Contribution Details

Type Conference or Workshop Paper
Scope Discipline-based scholarship
Published in Proceedings Yes
Title Time consistent optimal fiscal policy over the business cycle
Organization Unit
Authors
  • Zhigang Feng
Presentation Type paper
Item Subtype Original Work
Refereed No
Status Published in final form
Language
  • English
Page Range 1 - 39
Event Title Midwest Macro Meeting
Event Type conference
Event Location University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Chicago, US
Event Start Date May 11 - 2012
Event End Date May 13 - 2012
Abstract Text This paper examines a dynamic stochastic economy with a benevolent government that cannot commit to future policies. Following Phelan and Stacchetti (2001), we consider sequential sustainable equilibria (SSE). We numerically solve for the set of equilibrium payoffs, and investigate whether the time consistency problem of capital income tax is quantitatively important. For a realistically calibrated economy, we find that the optimal sustainable capital income tax rate is pro-cyclical and close to zero on average, while the labor income tax is countercyclical. Moreover, the welfare cost of no commitment is very small (0:22%) when compared with the Ramsey allocation. We also find that the best sustainable equilibrium outcome may achieve substantially higher social welfare than the Markov-perfect equilibrium as considered by Klein, Krusell and Rios-Rull (2008).
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