Swank, O. and Swank, J. (1993). In search of the motives behind US fiscal macroeconomic policy Applied Economics, 25:1013--1022.

Affiliated author

Otto Swank
Publication year

1993

Journal

Applied Economics

In this paper optimal control tehniques are applieed to estimate the motives behind US fiscal macroeconomic policy. Starting from a range of possible objesctives and given the perception of policy makers about the environment in which they operate, the priorities of policy makers are estimated on the basis of their past actions. Our statistical approach allows for testing the empirical relevance of alternative hypotheses with respect to the objectives of governments. Demoeratic and Republican administrations are found to aim at different targets. Some support is also found to political business cycle theories. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the Ductch Central Bank.