Fragmented Politics and Public Debt

Author/Editor:

Ernesto Crivelli ; Sanjeev Gupta ; Carlos Mulas-Granados ; Carolina Correa-Caro

Publication Date:

September 19, 2016

Electronic Access:

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Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary:

In this paper, we study the impact of fragmented politics on public debt—in particular, between two consecutive legislative elections. Using data for 92 advanced and developing countries during 1975-2015, we find a positive association between political fragmentation and public debt changes. Corruption magnifies the effects; with higher perceived corruption, political fragmentation has a bigger sway on debt increases. The influence of political fragmentation on debt dynamics is somewhat asymmetric, with larger and more significant effects during periods of debt reduction. Establishment of fiscal councils helps attenuate the negative impact of political fragmentation on public debt dynamics.

Series:

Working Paper No. 16/190

Subject:

Cross country analysis Developed countries Developing countries Econometric models Public debt Time series

English

Publication Date:

September 19, 2016

ISBN/ISSN:

9781475537024/1018-5941

Stock No:

WPIEA2016190

Format:

Paper

Pages:

31

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