Why do some fiscal contractions generate a favorable macroeconomic outcome while others do not? Using both descriptive statistics and regression analysis of 19 OECD countries for the period 1970-97, this paper finds that preceding depreciations are important for a favorable macroeconomic outcome...

Case studies have claimed that private consumption growth is higher during fiscal contractions due to the very fact that government spending is cut. Indeed, neoclassical theory has this implication. This paper uses regression analysis of a panel of 19 OECD countries and shows that this is not...