Skip to main content
Log in

Fiscal policy, wealth divergence, and lifetime utility

  • Articles
  • Published:
Journal of Economics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Using a two-country dynamic optimization model where the less patient country decumulates and the more patient one accumulates wealth, we analyze spillover effects of lump-sum and consumption taxes. A lump-sum tax on a country definitely harms the other country through a change in the rate of interest. A lump-sum tax on either country always improves the less patient country's asset position. A consumption tax has no spillover effect, although it is Pareto-inferior. Applying these results into a closed-country context with heterogeneous agents, we also discuss policy implications of a discriminatory tax.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Becker, R. A. (1980): “On the Long-run Steady State in a Simple Dynamic Model of Equilibrium with Heterogeneous Households.”Quarterly Journal of Economics 95: 375–382.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bewley, T. (1982): “An Integration of General Equilibrium Theory and Turnpike Theory.”Journal of Mathematical Economics 10: 233–267.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blanchard, O. J., and Fischer, S. (1989):Lectures on Macroeconomics. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buiter, W. H. (1987): “Fiscal Policy in Open, Interdependent Economies.” InEconomic Policies in Theory and Practice, edited by A. Razin and E. Sadka. New York: St. Martins Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chari, V. V., and Kehoe, P. J. (1990): “International Coordination of Fiscal Policy in Limiting Economies.”Journal of Political Economy 98: 617–637.

    Google Scholar 

  • Devereux, M. B., and Mansoorian, A. (1992): “International Fiscal Policy Coordination and Economic Growth.”International Economic Review 33: 249–268.

    Google Scholar 

  • Djajic, S. (1987): “Effects of Budgetary Policies in Open Economies: the Role of Intertemporal Consumption Substitution.”Journal of International Money and Finance 6: 373–383.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frenkel, J., and Razin, A. (1985): “Government Spending, Debt, and International Economic Interdependence.”Economic Journal 95: 619–636.

    Google Scholar 

  • — (1987):Fiscal Policy and the World Economy. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ikeda, S., and Ono, Y. (1992): “Macroeconomic Dynamics in a Multi-Country Economy: a Dynamic Optimization Approach.”International Economic Review 33: 629–644.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kehoe, P. J. (1987): “Coordination of Fiscal Policies in a World Economy.”Journal of Monetary Economics 19: 349–376.

    Google Scholar 

  • — (1989): “Policy Cooperation Among Benevolent Governments May Be Undesirable.”Review of Economic Studies 56: 289–296.

    Google Scholar 

  • Obstfeld, M. (1981): “Macroeconomic Policy, Exchange-rate Dynamics, and Optimal Asset Accumulation.”Journal of Political Economy 89: 1142–1161.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ono, Y., and Ikeda, S. (1996): “International Welfare Effects of Saving Controls and Trade Restrictions.” InOrganization, Performance and Equity: Perspective on the Japanese Economy, edited by R. Sato and R. Ramachandran. Dordrecht: Kluwer (forthcoming).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ono, Y., and Shibata, A. (1992): “Spill-Over Effects of Supply-Side Changes in a Two-Country Economy with Capital Accumulation.”Journal of International Economics 33: 127–146.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramsey, F. (1928): “A Mathematical Theory of Saving.”Economic Journal 38: 543–559.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ono, Y., Ikeda, S. Fiscal policy, wealth divergence, and lifetime utility. Zeitschr. f. Nationalökonomie 64, 265–280 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01250129

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01250129

Keywords

JEL classification

Navigation