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Journal of Banking & Finance Vol. 23 No. 10 1999

A primer on monetary and fiscal policy

Thomas J. Sargent1,2

1 Hoover Institution · 2 Stanford University

Abstract

Monetary policy can be constrained by fiscal policy if fiscal deficits grow large enough to require monetization of government debt. That fact implies that the administrative independence of central banks does not by itself imply that monetary policy is independent of the fiscal decisions of governments. This essay describes limitations, possibilities, and suitable goals for monetary policy within the existing pattern of institutional responsibilities. The economic limitations of what can be achieved by monetary policy are summarized in six propositions developed in the paper.

DOI
10.1016/s0378-4266(99)00026-6
Volume
23
Issue
10
Pages
1463-1482
Language
en
Sources
bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref

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