How Informative Are Real Time Output Gap Estimates in Europe?

How Informative Are Real Time Output Gap Estimates in Europe? PDF Author: Mr.Alvar Kangur
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1513515616
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 42

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Book Description
We study the properties of the IMF-WEO estimates of real-time output gaps for countries in the euro area as well as the determinants of their revisions over 1994-2017. The analysis shows that staff typically saw economies as operating below their potential. In real time, output gaps tend to have large and negative averages that are largely revised away in later vintages. Most of the mis-measurement in real time can be explained by the difficulty in predicting recessions and by overestimation of the economy’s potential capacity. We also find, in line with earlier literature, that real-time output gaps are not useful for predicting inflation. In addition, countries where slack (and potential growth) is overestimated to a larger extent primary fiscal balances tend to be lower and public debt ratios are higher and increase faster than projected. Previous research suggests that national authorities’ real-time output gaps suffer from a similar bias. To the extent these estimates play a role in calibrating fiscal policy, over-optimism about long-term growth could contribute to excessive deficits and debt buildup.

How Informative Are Real Time Output Gap Estimates in Europe?

How Informative Are Real Time Output Gap Estimates in Europe? PDF Author: Mr.Alvar Kangur
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1513515616
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 42

Get Book Here

Book Description
We study the properties of the IMF-WEO estimates of real-time output gaps for countries in the euro area as well as the determinants of their revisions over 1994-2017. The analysis shows that staff typically saw economies as operating below their potential. In real time, output gaps tend to have large and negative averages that are largely revised away in later vintages. Most of the mis-measurement in real time can be explained by the difficulty in predicting recessions and by overestimation of the economy’s potential capacity. We also find, in line with earlier literature, that real-time output gaps are not useful for predicting inflation. In addition, countries where slack (and potential growth) is overestimated to a larger extent primary fiscal balances tend to be lower and public debt ratios are higher and increase faster than projected. Previous research suggests that national authorities’ real-time output gaps suffer from a similar bias. To the extent these estimates play a role in calibrating fiscal policy, over-optimism about long-term growth could contribute to excessive deficits and debt buildup.

How Informative Are Real Time Output Gap Estimates in Europe?

How Informative Are Real Time Output Gap Estimates in Europe? PDF Author: Mr.Alvar Kangur
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1513512544
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 42

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Book Description
We study the properties of the IMF-WEO estimates of real-time output gaps for countries in the euro area as well as the determinants of their revisions over 1994-2017. The analysis shows that staff typically saw economies as operating below their potential. In real time, output gaps tend to have large and negative averages that are largely revised away in later vintages. Most of the mis-measurement in real time can be explained by the difficulty in predicting recessions and by overestimation of the economy’s potential capacity. We also find, in line with earlier literature, that real-time output gaps are not useful for predicting inflation. In addition, countries where slack (and potential growth) is overestimated to a larger extent primary fiscal balances tend to be lower and public debt ratios are higher and increase faster than projected. Previous research suggests that national authorities’ real-time output gaps suffer from a similar bias. To the extent these estimates play a role in calibrating fiscal policy, over-optimism about long-term growth could contribute to excessive deficits and debt buildup.

Measuring Output Gap: Is It Worth Your Time?

Measuring Output Gap: Is It Worth Your Time? PDF Author: Mr.Jiaqian Chen
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 151352786X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 28

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Book Description
We apply a range of models to the U.K. data to obtain estimates of the output gap. A structural VAR with an appropriate identification strategy provides improved estimates of output gap with better real time properties and lower sensitivity to temporary shocks than the usual filtering techniques. It also produces smaller out-of-sample forecast errors for inflation. At the same time, however, our results suggest caution in basing policy decisions on output gap estimates.

The Negative Mean Output Gap

The Negative Mean Output Gap PDF Author: Mr.Shekhar Aiyar
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1513512749
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 24

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Book Description
We argue that in an economy with downward nominal wage rigidity, the output gap is negative on average. Because it is more difficult to cut wages than to increase them, firms reduce employment more during downturns than they increase employment during expansions. This is demonstrated in a simple New Keynesian model with asymmetric wage adjustment costs. Using the model's output gap as a benchmark, we further show that common output gap estimation methods exhibit a systematic bias because they assume a zero mean. The bias is especially large in deep recessions when potential output tends to be most severely underestimated.

A New Methodology for Estimating the Output Gap in the United States

A New Methodology for Estimating the Output Gap in the United States PDF Author: Ali Alichi
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1513523465
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 17

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Book Description
The gap between potential and actual output—the output gap—is a key variable for policymaking. This paper adapts the methodology developed in Blagrave and others (2015) to estimate the path of output gap in the U.S. economy. The results show that the output gap has considerably shrunk since the Great Recession, but still remains negative. While the results are more robust than other existing methodologies, there is still significant uncertainty surrounding the estimates.

Fiscal Policy in the European Union

Fiscal Policy in the European Union PDF Author: Jesus Ferreiro
Publisher: Palgrave MacMillan
ISBN:
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 248

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Book Description
"This book offers a comprehensive analysis of current national fiscal policies in the European Union and European Monetary Union, and provides insights into the consequences of these fiscal policies on economic activity. With contributions from a range of experts, the book focuses on the coordination problems between the single monetary policy and national fiscal policies, and the negative impact on the capacity of fiscal policy to correct short-term economic fluctuations and to accelerate economic growth in the long-term in European economies. This book is an essential read for all interested in the role of fiscal policy in the European Union."--BOOK JACKET.

Fiscal Policy Making in the European Union

Fiscal Policy Making in the European Union PDF Author: Martin Larch
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1135234949
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 219

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Book Description
""Fiscal policy making in the European Union is a national prerogative that is carried out and co-ordinated within the remits of the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP). The SGP Member States have agreed upon a rules-based framework which, abstracting from operational details, aims to ensure long-term sustainability of public finances while allowing for short-term fiscal stabilization. The success of the EU fiscal framework depends to a large extent on the effectiveness and accuracy of the tool-kit of indicators and methods used at the EU level to monitor and assess the fiscal performance of the Member States vis-a-vis the requirements of the SGP. The contributions to this volume examine key aspects of the measurement of fiscal policy making in the context of the EU fiscal surveillance framework. They highlight strengths and weaknesses of current assessment practice, including innovations implied by the 2005 revision of the SGP." "--Jacket.

The Pre-Crisis Capital Flow Surge to Emerging Europe

The Pre-Crisis Capital Flow Surge to Emerging Europe PDF Author: Mr.Ruben Atoyan
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1475510276
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 34

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Book Description
A push-pull-brake model of capital flows is used to study the effects of fiscal policy changes on private capital flows to emerging Europe during 2000-07. In the model, countercyclical fiscal policy has two opposing effects on capital inflows: (i) a conventional absorptionreducing effect, as a tighter fiscal stance acts as a brake on capital flows; and (ii) an unconventional absorption-boosting effect, as a tighter fiscal stance increases investor confidence in the country. The empirical results suggest that push factors (low returns in flow-originating countries), rather than pull factors (high returns in flow-destination countries), drove most of the private capital flows to emerging Europe. And active countercyclical fiscal policy once the fiscal stance is adjusted for the automatic effects on the fiscal position of both internal and external imbalances acted as a brake on capital inflows. However, the empirical results also suggest that, even abstracting from political feasibility and fiscal policy lag considerations, countercyclical fiscal policy alone is unlikely to be an effective policy tool to put an effective brake on sudden capital flow surges.

Defensive Expectations

Defensive Expectations PDF Author: Liviu Voinea
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3030550451
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 216

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Book Description
This book explains why inflation remains subdued after recessions, based on three revolutionary concepts: defensive expectations, compensatory savings, and cumulative wage gap. When income falls, consumption falls, and savings rise, as people rebuild their past wealth. Households will not spend more until they fully recover what they lost. The revised Phillips Curve explains that current inflation depends on the cumulative difference between current income and past income. This new theory is tested and validated by data for US since 1960 to date and for 35 OECD countries from 1990 to date. A number of policy implications are derived from these results. The book calls for an optimal policy mix between monetary policy and fiscal policy; it also discusses the coronavirus crisis as an extreme case of defensive expectations.

The Euro Area Business Cycle

The Euro Area Business Cycle PDF Author: Lucrezia Reichlin
Publisher: Centre for Economic Policy Research
ISBN: 1898128839
Category : Business cycles
Languages : en
Pages : 103

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Book Description