We use a controlled laboratory experiment with and without overlapping generations to study the emergence of public debt. Public debt is chosen by popular vote, pays for public goods, and is repaid with general taxes. With a single generation, public debt is accumulated prudently, never leading...

The paper aims to analyse the impact of government debt on the country’s economic growth. Beginning of the economic crisis in 2007 and rapid growth of government debt has attracted interest in this topic. Government debt-to-GDP ratio in the EU has increased from 58.7 to 86.8 percent from 2007...