Ricardian Equivalence states that, under certain circumstances and for a given path of expenditures, the substitution of debt for taxes does not affect private sector wealth and consumption. Ricardian Equivalence is based on the premise that debt financing is only a change in the timing of...

In designing policy measures, including possible social safety nets, targeted to the poor, it is important to fully understand the efficiency implications of these measures. There is abundant macroeconomic literature on their negative effects on the poor`s work effort. The literature, however,...

This paper discusses the interrelationships between fiscal deficits and public debt. It analyzes the sources of growth of domestic and foreign public debt, and deals with the fiscal policy constraints imposed by a high level of indebtedness. It also discusses the macro-economic effects of public...

The 1990s currency debacles revitalized the search for early warning and forward-looking indicators of financial vulnerabilities. This paper contributes to this task by proposing an approach to assess central bank solvency and to examine the factors putting it at risk, and by refining the...