Have large budget deficits caused increasing trade deficits? Evidence from a developing country

This paper investigates the relationship between budget and trade deficits on the basis of previous empirical work. Within the framework of cointegration analysis, error-correction modeling and Granger causality, the paper evaluates the validity of the Keynesian proposition (conventional view) and the Ricardian equivalence hypothesis. The error-correction modeling approach supports the Keynesian proposition in the short and long run. The empirical evidence reveals one-way causality from budget deficit to trade deficit.     

Budget deficits, monetization, and centralbank independence in developing countries

Using various indicators for central bank independence we examinethe relationship between central bank independence and governmentbudget deficits. Using a two-stage procedure we also analyzewhether central bank independence affects the monetization ofdeficits. First, the monetization relation in each country isestimated and then the resulting accommodation coefficientsare related to central bank independence. We conclude that onlyif the turnover rate of central bank governors or the politicalvulnerability mdex is used monetary accommodation of deficitsis negatively related to central bank independence. There isno relationship between independence and the level of budgetdeficits     

Financing budget deficits in the Netherlands

Summary In The Netherlands public debt management is in the hands of the budgetary policy-maker, whose recourse to the capital market can exceed or fall short of the total borrowing requirement in order to absorb or create liquidity. The conduct of that policy since the early 1960's is analyzed in this paper, emphasizing the importance of medium-term control over the public finances as a prerequisite for the ability of debt management to make a flexible contribution to monetary policy. During the 1960's this condition was satisfied and debt management followed a stable countercyclical pattern which, however, was abandoned after the early 1970's as the public finances swung into substantial disequilibrium.The author thanks J. Boughton, L. Bovenberg, D. Hendry, P. Masson, J. Muellbauer, and the referees for comments on earlier versions. However, the views expressed are his alone and do not necessarily represent those of the International Monetary Fund.     

Fiscal deficits, public debt, and government solvency: Evidence from OECD countries

This paper discusses different empirical tests of public sector solvency and applies them to a sample of 18 OECD countries. Under the maintained hypothesis that the government solvency constraint needs to be imposed, these tests develop from the idea of verifying whether the intertemporal budget constraint of the public sector would be satisfied (a) if the fiscal and financial policy in the sample had been pursued indefinitely and (b) if the relevant macro and structural features of the economy were stable over time. If solvency is not supported by the empirical evidence, a change either in the policy or in the relevant macro and structural variables (growth, inflation, interest rates, demographic factors) must occur at some point in the future. Among the G-7 countries, public sector solvency seems a serious issue in Italy, whereas it does not appear to be a problem in Germany and Japan. The evidence for the United States is mixed. Problems of sustainability of the current path of fiscal policies are also present in Belgium, Ireland, The Netherlands, and Greece.     

参与式预算:地方政府预算制度改革模式研究

文章探讨了参与式预算的发展及其实施与推广的基本原则、过程、所参与的项目、所取得的成就与局限等国际经验,指出了在中国地方预算管理制度中持续推行参与式预算需要关注的几个问题。     

Saving,investment, fiscal deficits,and the external indebtedness of developing countries

This paper investigates selected aspects of the external indebtedness of the developing countries. It examines both the theoretical and empirical sides of the debt servicing capacity issue, focussing on the role of domestic savings and investment as well as the budget deficits of the public sector in the recent widening of their current account deficits. The results of the study do not support the proposition that increases in external indebtedness among developing countries reflect overconsumption. Capital inflows did not partly or wholly displace domestic saving for the sample of countries examined; rather, the increase in external deficits can in most cases be accounted for by expansion in investment (relative to total output). However, the author qualifies his basically optimistic conclusions in pointing out that countries' ability to repay debt depends not only on whether initial borrowing sustained consumption or investment. but also, if the latter, on the quality of the investment spending.     

Financial-market effects of Federal Government budget deficits

Conclusion This paper finds that, for the 30-year period 1955–1984, the federal government budget deficit in the United States had a positive and significant effect on the longer-term nominal interest rate. This finding is at odds with most of the existing literature, which finds federal budget deficits to have no measurable impact upon interest rates in the United States [cf. Evans, 1985; 1987; Hoelscher, 1983; Makin, 1983; Motley, 1983; McMillin, 1986; and Mascaro and Meltzer, 1983]. The difference between the findings here and the findings in these other studies can be traced at least in part to the way in which we specify the deficit variable. That is, we distinguish between thestructural deficit, which approximates theexogenous component of the total deficit, and thecyclical deficit, which represents theendogenous component of the total deficit. By contrast, these other related studies measure the deficit in more aggregated ways, which combine the cyclical deficit with the structural deficit into one variable.     

The determinants of export subsidiary formation by US transnationals in developing countries: An inter-industry analysis

This paper examines the inter-industry variation in US transnationals' propensity to invest in export-orientated manufacturing subsidiaries in less developed countries. The results obtained from the empirical analysis indicate that a significant proportion of the variation can be explained by industry characteristics, such as factor-intensity, research and development expenditure, and marketing requirements. This study draws attention to a number of data limitations, and suggests that further progress in this area of investigation will depend on the assembly of a more refined data base.     

Willful default by developing countries in the 1980s: A cross-country analysis of major determinants

Zusammenfassung Willkürliche Zahlungseinstellung von Entwicklungsl?ndern in den achtziger Jahren: Eine Querschnittsanalyse wichtiger Determinanten. — Sollen Souver?nit?tsrisiken im internationalen Kreditgesch?ft abgebaut werden, müssen zun?chst die Determinanten willkürlicher Zahlungseinstellung identifiziert werden. Dies geschieht in dem vorliegenden Artikel, indem verschiedene Variablen, die den Nutzen und die Kosten willkürlicher Zahlungseinstellung widerspiegeln, einer Logit-Analyse unterzogen werden. Es zeigt sich, da\ die Wahrscheinlichkeit einer Zahlungseinstellung sinkt, wenn die Gl?ubiger ein solches Verhalten mit wirksamen Sanktionen belegen k?nnen. Die Aussagekraft der Sch?tzungen reicht jedoch nicht aus, um Zahlungseinstellungen zuverl?ssig vorhersagen zu k?nnen. Entscheidungen über Zahlungseinstellungen werden nicht ausschlie\lich von gesamtwirtschaftlichen Wohlfahrtsüberlegungen bestimmt; offensichtlich h?ngen sie auch von den Eigeninteressen der Regierungen und einflu\reichen Gruppen in den Schuldnerl?ndern ab.

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Résumé Suspension de paiements intentionnelle des pays en voie de développement dans les années 80: une analyse transversale des déterminants importants. — Si les risques de souveraineté aux operations de crédit international doivent être diminués, il faut d’abord identifier les déterminants des suspensions de paiements intentionnelles. Cela arrive dans cette étude d’une analyse logit des variables différentes qui indiquent les avantages et les désavantages d’une suspension de paiements intentionnelle. Les résultats montrent que la probabilité d’une suspension de paiements se réduit si les débiteurs peuvent répondre à un tel comportement avec des sanctions effectives. Mais la qualité des estimations ne suffit pas pour prévoir avec s?reté les suspensions de paiemants. Les décisions concernant les suspensions de paiements ne sont pas seulement déterminées par des considérations macro-économiques du bien-être. De toute évidence elles dépendent aussi des intérêts propres du gouvernement et des groupes d’intérêts puissants dans les pays débiteurs.

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Resumen Moratorias arbitrarias de países en desarrollo en los a?os ochenta: un análisis de déterminantes importantes. — Para poder controlar los riesgos de soberanía en el mercado crediticio internacional hay que primeramente identificar las déterminantes de moratorias arbitrarias. Esto se realiza en este trabajo en el marco de un análisis Logit de diferentes variables que reflejan los costos y beneficios de moratorias arbitrarias. Se muestra que la probabilidad de una moratoria disminuye si el acreedor logra establecer sanciones efectivas. Las estimaciones, empero, no permiten pronosticar moratorias con certeza. La toma de decisiones sobre moratorias no esta determinada solamente por el bienestar de un pais, sino también por los intereses propios de los gobiernos y de grupos de presión importantes de los países deudores.

     

Construction industry in developing countries

This paper provides a review of the construction capability available in the developing countries to meet the demand for shelter. It discusses the role of construction in the process of development and its importance to economic growth. It considers the issues facing the growth of a viable indigenous construction industry in the developing world within the context of the activities involved in the creation of constructed facilities – planning, design, construction and maintenance; it also examines the environment within which the industry has developed. For each construction activity the paper reviews available capabilities, the various resources needed for the development of an indigenous industry, and some possible means of accommodating these needs.     

Fiscal disequilibrium in developing countries

Fiscal equilibrium necessitates that ‘permanent’ government expenditures be covered by ‘permanent’ government revenues. The concept of ‘permanent’ goverment expenditures and revenues takes into account future revenue from capital investments as well as temporary windfalls. Hence, equilibrium may exist despite temporary imbalance between revenue and expenditure. The causes of disequilibrium can be classified into five categories: export boom; price-inelastic tax system; public enterprise performance; increased expenditure produced by political exigencies or administrative weaknesses; and worsening terms of trade. In practice, unrealistic customs valuations, specific as opposed to ad valorem taxes and administrative difficulties have been the most common sources of declining government revenue as a percentage of gross domestic product. Increased subsidies both to consumer goods and to public enterprises as well as inadequate control mechanisms have been the most frequent causes of rising government expenditure.     

Chinese contractors in developing countries

This paper uses turnover data from Chinese contracted projects in as many as 87 low and lower middle income countries from 1998 to 2009. Economic fundamentals motivate Chinese contractor presence in developing countries as their revenues are positively associated with countries’ per capita income and expected growth. All else equal, contractor project revenues are higher in countries with stronger political rights regimes. Moreover, the estimated positive effect of improvements in political freedom is largest among countries with high fuel endowment, but lowest among countries with high ores and metals endowments. Conclusions relating Chinese contractor activities, perceptions on the level corruption, and resource endowment among sub-Saharan African countries must remain tentative as the estimated relationships are sensitive to the corruption indices used.