Optimal Fiscal and Monetary Policy with Nominal and Indexed Debt

Download or read book Optimal Fiscal and Monetary Policy with Nominal and Indexed Debt written by Michael T. Gapen and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2003-11-01 with total page 40 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This paper highlights the importance of debt composition in setting optimal fiscal and monetary policy over short-run business cycles and in the long run. Nominal debt as state-contingent debt can be a significant policy tool to reduce the volatility of distortionary government policy, thereby reducing macroeconomic volatility while increasing equilibrium output and consumption. The welfare gain from using nominal debt to hedge against shocks to the government budget is as large as the welfare gain from the ability to issue debt.