Dynamic Fiscal Policies, Unemployment, and Economic Growth

This paper analyzes the growth and employment effects of dynamic fiscal policies in an overlapping generations model with endogenous growth and imperfect labour markets. With balanced-budget policies, the modelled closed economy grows at a constant rate which is the higher, the lower are the labour tax rate and the unemployment rate. Both government Ponzi games and constant-flow budget policies are shown not to be feasible. Furthermore, while constant-stock fiscal policies are sustainable, an increase in the debt-to-capital ratio is accompanied by higher taxes, a rise in unemployment and lower economic growth.