Fiscal Consolidation in a Low-Inflation Environment : Pay Cuts versus Lost Jobs
Bandeira, Guilherme
Pappa, Evi
Sajedi, Rana
Vella, Eugenia
Barcelona Graduate School of Economics

Imprint: Barcelona Graduate School of Economics 2018
Description: 46 p.
Abstract: We construct a model of a monetary union to study fiscal consolidation in the periphery of the euro area, through cuts in public sector wages or hiring when the nominal interest rate is constrained at its lower bound. Consolidation induces a positive wealth effect that increases demand, as well as a reallocation of workers towards the private sector, which together boost private activity. However, in a low-inflation environment, demand is suppressed and the private sector is not able to absorb the additional workers. Comparing the two instruments, cuts in public hiring increase unemployment persistently in this environment, while wage cuts can reduce it. Regions with higher mobility of labor between the two sectors are able to consolidate more effectively. Price flexibility is also key at the zero lower bound: for a higher degree of price rigidity in the periphery, consolidation becomes harder to achieve. Consolidations can be self-defeating when the public good is productive.
Rights: Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. Creative Commons
Language: Anglès
Series: Barcelona Graduate School of Economics. ADEMU working paper series
Series: ADEMU Working Paper Series ; 140
Document: Working paper
Subject: Fiscal consolidation ; Public wage bill ; Zero lower bound



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46 p, 1.7 MB

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Research literature > Working papers

 Record created 2020-09-30, last modified 2022-10-22



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