Across major Western economics interest rates have been at historic lows since the financial crisis of 2008. This has rightly motivated a great deal of research into theoretical implications of the zero lower bound (ZLB) on nominal interest rates. I plan to challenge the emerging consensus that a binding ZLB provide a good explanation for poor macroeconomic performance since the crisis. My research will test several restrictions common to ZLB models. The aim is to apply this analysis to fiscal policy; including debate about the size of spending multipliers and the desirability of austerity and fiscal stimulus measures. I feel my research could have powerful implications for public policy; as well as how we model macroeconomic fluctuations in good times and bad.
Staines, David
Start date:
October 2012Research Topic:
Austerity, Stimulus and Inflation in a Low Interest Rate Environment Research pathway:
EconomicsResearch Supervisor:
Professor Huw Dixon (primary), Professor Patrick Minford, Professor James Foreman-Peck (secondary supervisors)Supervising school:
Cardiff Business School, Cardiff UniversityPrimary funding source:
ESRC StudentshipEmail:
stainesdj@cardiff.ac.ukAcademia.edu:
http://cardiff.academia.edu/DavidStaines