We investigate the lending behavior of banks by exploiting a rich panel dataset on the contract terms of approximately two million commercial and industrial loans granted by 580 banks between 1977-1993. Using a Markov switching panel model we demonstrate that banks change their lending standards...

Spending based fiscal adjustment requires decisions on when? and how much to cut public spending to minimise adverce effects on economic growth. This requires precise estimates of the response of output to changes in the functional components of public spending. I call this the functional...

Harberger’s superneutrality conjecture contends that, although in theory the mix of direct and indirect taxes affects investment and growth, in practice tax policy is ineffective as an instrument to promote growth. This paper provides evidence to support this view by examining the predictions...