Unconventional Fiscal Policy at Work
AEA Paper & Proceedings, 113, pp. 61-64
2023
Abstract
In an effort to stabilize the economy during the Covid-19 pandemic, the German government reduced value added taxes (VAT) by three percentage points for a period of six months in the latter half of 2020. This measure resulted in a boost in aggregate consumer spending on both durable and semi-durable goods during the six-month period, with spending decreasing once the VAT reduction was reversed. The effect of the temporary VAT cut on durable spending was stronger than on semi-durable spending. Additionally, the temporary VAT cut also stabilized, and even slightly increased, inflation expectations in the second half of 2020.
Cite this paper
@Article{BBGKLW_2023PnP,
author = {Ruediger Bachmann, Benjamin Born, Olga Goldfayn-Frank, Georgi Kocharkov, Ralph Luetticke, Michael Weber},
title = {Unconventional Fiscal Policy at Work},
year = {2023},
journal = {AEA Papers \& Proceedings},
volume = {113},
pages = {61--64}
}