Optimal Fiscal Spending and Reserve Accumulation Policies under Volatile Aid

Author/Editor:

Ioana Moldovan ; Shu-Chun Susan Yang ; Luis-Felipe Zanna

Publication Date:

June 11, 2019

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 assesses the optimal setting of fiscal spending and foreign exchange rate intervention policies in response to volatile foreign aid, in a small open economy model that incorporates typical features of low-income countries. Within a class of policy rules, it jointly considers the optimal aid spending and international reserve accumulation policies. The results show that it is optimal to adjust government spending gradually in response to unpredictable fluctuations in aid, while partially accumulating foreign exchange reserves to offset Dutch disease effects. Also, allocating relatively more of the government spending to productive public investment, and less to government consumption, is welfare improving.

Series:

Working Paper No. 2019/126

Subject:

English

Publication Date:

June 11, 2019

ISBN/ISSN:

9781498312110/1018-5941

Stock No:

WPIEA2019126

Pages:

45

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