Deflation and Fiscal Deficits: Three Questions About Japanese Economic Policy (SpringerBriefs in Economics) - Softcover

Sakai, Yoshikiyo

Softcover

ISBN 10: 9819704146 ISBN 13: 9789819704149

Publisher: Springer, 2024

Synopsis

In this study on the Japanese economy, the author focuses on three problems related to economic policy and presents their answers. The author analyzes (i) what mechanisms exist for fiscal policy and the price level, (ii) whether the MMT proposition that public deficits increase people’s wealth and savings fits into the standard macro model, and (iii) whether Blanchard's assertion that fiscal deficits are net wealth in the US economy can be applied to Japanese economy as well. The propositions of Sims’ FTPL, Kelton's MMT, Japan's Ricardian type argument, and the non-Ricardian type of government by Blanchard have been understood as independent economic perceptions, but they will be theoretically shown as a coherent story. Namely, this study presents a macroeconomic framework that includes the financial sector and derives Sims’ proposition that “fiscal policy can be the sole determinant of the price level.” It also shows that MMT's claim that "budget deficits increase our wealth and collective savings" can inevitably hold within this framework. Furthermore, it presents a model that consistently explains that public debt leads to financial collapse but contributes to economic welfare.

About this title

About the Author

Yoshikiyo Sakai is Professor Emeritus, Yokohama City University and Kanagawa University, Japan.

From the Back Cover

In this study on the Japanese economy, the author focuses on three problems related to economic policy and presents their answers. The author analyzes (i) what mechanisms exist for fiscal policy and the price level, (ii) whether the MMT proposition that public deficits increase people’s wealth and savings fits into the standard macro model, and (iii) whether Blanchard's assertion that fiscal deficits are net wealth in the US economy can be applied to Japanese economy as well. The propositions of Sims’ FTPL, Kelton's MMT, Japan's Ricardian type argument, and the non-Ricardian type of government by Blanchard have been understood as independent economic perceptions, but they will be theoretically shown as a coherent story. Namely, this study presents a macroeconomic framework that includes the financial sector and derives Sims’ proposition that “fiscal policy can be the sole determinant of the price level.” It also shows that MMT's claim that "budget deficits increase our wealth and collective savings" can inevitably hold within this framework. Furthermore, it presents a model that consistently explains that public debt leads to financial collapse and contributes to economic welfare.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 2024
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9819704146
• ISBN 13: 9789819704149
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 81