Fiscal Policy and the Current Account

May 1, 2010

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

This paper examines the relationship between fiscal policy and the current account, drawing on a larger country sample than in previous studies and using panel regressions, vector autoregressions, and an analysis of large fiscal and external adjustments. On average, a strengthening in the fiscal balance by 1 percentage point of GDP is associated with a current account improvement of 0.2–0.3 percentage point of GDP. This association is as strong in emerging and low-income countries as it is in advanced economies; and significantly higher when output is above potential.

Subject: Current account, Current account balance, Fiscal policy, Fiscal stance, Government consumption

Keywords: GDP, WP

Pages:
30
Volume:
2010
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5089/9781455200801.001
Issue:
121
Series:
Working Paper No. 2010/121
Stock No:
WPIEA2010121
ISBN:
9781455200801
ISSN:
1018-5941

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