Fiscal policy and fluctuations in a monetary model of growth
Résumé
We consider an infinite horizon economy with representative agent, aggregate externalities on capital/labor ratio and liquidity constraint on income taxes. We show that the stationary rate of growth can be indeterminate for a wide range of elasticities of intertemporal substitution in consumption. Such a range is bounded from below by a value undergoing a saddle node bifurcation and from above by a value giving raise to a flip bifurcation. It follows that both multiple stationary rates of growth and cycles may emerge. In addition, we carry out a welfare analysis in terms of the optimal level of taxation, since public spending affects consumer's utility, although in a separable way. © 2005 University of Venice. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.