This article theoretically examines the impact of different forms of government spending on national income in a financially open economy with a significant net international investment position the central bank of which sets domestic interest rates to target inflation. It shows that whether government spending is expansionary or contractionary ultimately depends on the productivity of that expenditure, a result that has major implications for the efficacy of fiscal policy deployed for either stimulus or austerity reasons. The key prediction of the model is that public consumption and unproductive public investment are procyclical, whereas only productive public investment is countercyclical . ( JEL F41)"> This article theoretically examines the impact of different forms of government spending on national income in a financially open economy with a significant net international investment position the central bank of which sets domestic interest rates to target inflation. It shows that whether government spending is expansionary or contractionary ultimately depends on the productivity of that expenditure, a result that has major implications for the efficacy of fiscal policy deployed for either stimulus or austerity reasons. The key prediction of the model is that public consumption and unproductive public investment are procyclical, whereas only productive public investment is countercyclical . ( JEL F41)"> This article theoretically examines the impact of different forms of government spending on national income in a financially open economy with a signifi">
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Expansionary Versus Contractionary Government Spending

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  • Anthony J. Makin
Abstract
type="main" xml:lang="en"> This article theoretically examines the impact of different forms of government spending on national income in a financially open economy with a significant net international investment position the central bank of which sets domestic interest rates to target inflation. It shows that whether government spending is expansionary or contractionary ultimately depends on the productivity of that expenditure, a result that has major implications for the efficacy of fiscal policy deployed for either stimulus or austerity reasons. The key prediction of the model is that public consumption and unproductive public investment are procyclical, whereas only productive public investment is countercyclical . ( JEL F41)

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  • Anthony J. Makin, 2015. "Expansionary Versus Contractionary Government Spending," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 33(1), pages 56-65, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:coecpo:v:33:y:2015:i:1:p:56-65
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    2. Makin, Anthony J., 2019. "Lessons for macroeconomic policy from the Global Financial Crisis," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 13-25.

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    JEL classification:

    • F41 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Open Economy Macroeconomics

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