Document Type
Working Paper
Date of This Version
8-1-2009
Keywords
growth, fiscal policy, cyclicality
Abstract
We exploit differences in the stringency of balanced budget rules across US states to estimate the effect of fiscal policy cyclicality on state GDP growth. While most states have passed laws restricting deficits, the nature and strictness of these laws vary greatly. States with more stringent balanced budget restrictions run more procyclical fiscal policy. We use the diversity in these laws as an instrument for the cyclicality of state government spending. We find modest evidence that more counter-cyclical public expenditure increases a state's average growth rate per capita. Further, our point estimates suggest that a state could increase its annual growth rate by 0.4% by relaxing the "ex-post" balanced budget restriction. This estimated effect is statistically significant at the 10% level in our basic specification, but loses its significance when we control for the initial debt to GDP ratio.
Working Paper Number
0911
Recommended Citation
Kondo, Ayako and Svec, Justin, "Fiscal Policy Cyclicality and Growth within the U.S. States" (2009). Economics Department Working Papers. Paper 32.
https://crossworks.holycross.edu/econ_working_papers/32