This lecture focuses on the costs of public debt when safe interest rates are low. I develop four arguments.First, I show that the current U.S. situation in which safe interest rates are expected to remain below growth rates for a long time, is more the historical norm than the exception. If the...

Machine generated contents note: List of Tables * List of Figures * Foreword * Acknowledgements * List of Contributors * Introduction--J.Ayuso-i-Casals, S.Deroose, E.Flores& L.Moulin * PART I: FISCAL RULES AND INSTITUTIONS AS USEFUL DEVICES TO ADDRESS THE DEFICIT BIAS * Dealing With the Deficit...

Assesses the options and possibilities for a sustainable federal budget. This comprehensive book considers a range of policy changes that could help put the budget on a sustainable path: reforms to reduce the rate of growth in spending for Medicare and Medicaid; options to reduce the growth rate...