The Fiscal Multiplier of Public Investment: The Role of Corporate Balance Sheet

Author/Editor:

Raphael A Espinoza ; Juliana Gamboa-Arbelaez ; Mouhamadou Sy

Publication Date:

September 25, 2020

Electronic Access:

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Disclaimer: IMF Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to encourage debate. The views expressed in IMF Working Papers are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.

Summary:

This paper explores whether public investment crowds out or crowds in private investment. To this aim, we build a database of about half a million firms from 49 countries. We find that the effect of public investment on corporate investment depends both on leverage and financial constraints. Public investment boosts private investment for firms with low leverage. However, for firms with high leverage, private investment does not react to an increase in public investment, in line with theory (Myers 1977). We also find that the effect of public investment on corporate investment is much weaker for firms that are financially constrained.

Series:

Working Paper No. 2020/199

Subject:

Frequency:

regular

English

Publication Date:

September 25, 2020

ISBN/ISSN:

9781513557694/1018-5941

Stock No:

WPIEA2020199

Pages:

31

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