This paper develops a quantitative general equilibrium model to assess the growth effects of adopting a flat tax plan similar to the one proposed by Hall and Rabushka (1995). Using parameters calibrated to match the level and slope of the U.S. tax schedule and other features of the U.S. economy,...

This paper investigates a variety of objectives that are commonly used to motivate government fiscal action. These include welfare maximization, stabilization and growth maximization. The policies are compared on the basis of their implications for welfare, volatility and growth. We show that...

Since 1945, both Spain and Portugal have experienced significant market transformations. These countries were both led by dictators for many years until the mid 1970s when each moved toward more democratic governments and more open markets. As a result, each experienced significant changes in...

This paper examines the economic effects of various fundamental tax reforms in a model with two types of public-sector expenditures; one type contributes to human capital formation while the other provides direct utility to households. We show that a fully-optimal reform requires the government...

This paper investigates how responses of US macroeconomic activities to monetary policy shocks depend on the state of broker-dealer leverage. The analysis makes use of leverage data to create an indicator series that distinguishes above and below trend leverage states for the economy which is...

This paper develops a quantitative theoretical model for the optimal provision of public capital. We show that the ratio of public to private capital in the U.S. economy since 1925 evolves in a manner that is broadly consistent with an optimal transition path derived from a simple growth model....

This paper evaluates the efficiency implications of various fundamental tax reforms in an infinite-horizon endogenous growth model with public-sector investment in human capital. A fully optimal reform requires the government to adjust its expenditures on education, training, or R&D to take into...

This paper investigates a variety of objectives that are commonly used to motivate government fiscal action. These include, welfare maximization, stabilization and growth maximization. The policies are compared on the basis of their implications for welfare, volatility and growth. We show that...