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Showing 7 results for Fiscal Policy
Mr Hossein Aghilifar, Dr Khosrow Piraei, Dr Hashem Zare, Dr Mehrzad Ebrahimi,
Volume 0, Issue 0 (12-2024)
Volume 0, Issue 0 (12-2024)
Abstract
Aim and Introduction
After the global economic recession in 2008-2009, the discussion about countercyclical and procyclical fiscal policies and their effects on the economy began. Countercyclical fiscal policy is applied to reduce economic fluctuations by adjusting government spending and taxes against the business cycle. The aim of this policy is to stabilize the economy and flatten its fluctuations. On the contrary, procyclical fiscal policy strengthens economic fluctuations in the direction of business cycles. On the other hand, fiscal sustainability refers to the government's ability to maintain expenditures, income and public debt at a certain level in the long term without jeopardizing economic stability or facing a fiscal crisis. A sustainable fiscal policy ensures that the government's debt in the long run is at a level proportional to the size of the economy. The main questions of this research are as follows:
After the global economic recession in 2008-2009, the discussion about countercyclical and procyclical fiscal policies and their effects on the economy began. Countercyclical fiscal policy is applied to reduce economic fluctuations by adjusting government spending and taxes against the business cycle. The aim of this policy is to stabilize the economy and flatten its fluctuations. On the contrary, procyclical fiscal policy strengthens economic fluctuations in the direction of business cycles. On the other hand, fiscal sustainability refers to the government's ability to maintain expenditures, income and public debt at a certain level in the long term without jeopardizing economic stability or facing a fiscal crisis. A sustainable fiscal policy ensures that the government's debt in the long run is at a level proportional to the size of the economy. The main questions of this research are as follows:
- Is Iran's fiscal policy countercyclical or procyclical?
- Is Iran's fiscal policy sustainable?
- What is the effect of cyclical fiscal policy and fiscal sustainability on the Iranian economic growth?
- How is the mutual relationship between fiscal sustainability and cyclical fiscal policy in Iran?
Methodology
The evaluation of fiscal policy cyclicality and fiscal sustainability and their determinants have been previously researched. However, the effect of cyclical fiscal policy and fiscal sustainability on economic growth and their mutual relationship has not been covered. This research, has utilized Iran's 1970-2021 annual data and a state-space model with time-varying parameters and an autoregressive distributed lags model as well as Kalman filter method. Moreover, to evaluate Iran's cyclical fiscal policy and fiscal sustainability, the effect of cyclical fiscal policy and fiscal sustainability on economic growth have been investigated. The research also deals with the mutual effect between cyclical fiscal policy and fiscal sustainability in Iran.
Findings
In this research, in order to evaluate the cyclical behavior of Iran's fiscal policy and obtaining the index, a state-space model with time-varying parameters, is estimated in which the real GDP logarithm coefficient varies over time. Then, in order to assess Iran's fiscal sustainability and obtaining the index, a state-space model with time-varying parameters is estimated. Finally, an autoregressive distributed lags model is utilized to estimate the effect of cyclical fiscal policy index and fiscal sustainability index on economic growth, as well as estimating the mutual effect between cyclical fiscal policy index and fiscal sustainability index.
Discussion and Conclusion
The findings of this research show: First, Iran's cyclical fiscal policy index estimated in all years is positive and has not recorded a negative number in any year, which means that the fiscal policy implemented in Iran during the period 1970-2021, was procyclical. In other words, the fiscal policy implemented in Iran has increased the range of fluctuations of cycles and for this reason, it has made the Iranian economy vulnerable to the economic shocks. Second, the estimated Iran's fiscal sustainability index is negative in most years so that the average fiscal sustainability index in the entire period is -0.068. This indicates the unsustainability of Iran's fiscal policy in the period 1970-2021. The trend of the smoothed changes of the time-varying parameter related to the fiscal sustainability index is also downward, which means that Iran's fiscal sustainability has been weakening over time and has moved in the direction of unsustainability. Third, Iran's cyclical fiscal policy index has had a negative effect on economic growth. In other words, procyclical behavior of Iran's fiscal policy has slowed down the economic growth rate. Fourth, Iran's fiscal sustainability index has a negative and significant effect on economic growth. Based on the estimated fiscal sustainability index, unsustainability is evident within Iran's fiscal policy. Therefore, unsustainability of Iran's fiscal policy has weakened economic growth. Fifth, Iran's fiscal unsustainability has increased the procyclical behavior of fiscal policy and as a result, exacerbated the fluctuations of economic cycles. Sixth, the increasing Iran's cyclical fiscal policy index reduces the reaction of the primary balance to the government debt. In other words, the increase in the procyclical behavior of the fiscal policy weakens Iran's fiscal sustainability
The evaluation of fiscal policy cyclicality and fiscal sustainability and their determinants have been previously researched. However, the effect of cyclical fiscal policy and fiscal sustainability on economic growth and their mutual relationship has not been covered. This research, has utilized Iran's 1970-2021 annual data and a state-space model with time-varying parameters and an autoregressive distributed lags model as well as Kalman filter method. Moreover, to evaluate Iran's cyclical fiscal policy and fiscal sustainability, the effect of cyclical fiscal policy and fiscal sustainability on economic growth have been investigated. The research also deals with the mutual effect between cyclical fiscal policy and fiscal sustainability in Iran.
Findings
In this research, in order to evaluate the cyclical behavior of Iran's fiscal policy and obtaining the index, a state-space model with time-varying parameters, is estimated in which the real GDP logarithm coefficient varies over time. Then, in order to assess Iran's fiscal sustainability and obtaining the index, a state-space model with time-varying parameters is estimated. Finally, an autoregressive distributed lags model is utilized to estimate the effect of cyclical fiscal policy index and fiscal sustainability index on economic growth, as well as estimating the mutual effect between cyclical fiscal policy index and fiscal sustainability index.
Discussion and Conclusion
The findings of this research show: First, Iran's cyclical fiscal policy index estimated in all years is positive and has not recorded a negative number in any year, which means that the fiscal policy implemented in Iran during the period 1970-2021, was procyclical. In other words, the fiscal policy implemented in Iran has increased the range of fluctuations of cycles and for this reason, it has made the Iranian economy vulnerable to the economic shocks. Second, the estimated Iran's fiscal sustainability index is negative in most years so that the average fiscal sustainability index in the entire period is -0.068. This indicates the unsustainability of Iran's fiscal policy in the period 1970-2021. The trend of the smoothed changes of the time-varying parameter related to the fiscal sustainability index is also downward, which means that Iran's fiscal sustainability has been weakening over time and has moved in the direction of unsustainability. Third, Iran's cyclical fiscal policy index has had a negative effect on economic growth. In other words, procyclical behavior of Iran's fiscal policy has slowed down the economic growth rate. Fourth, Iran's fiscal sustainability index has a negative and significant effect on economic growth. Based on the estimated fiscal sustainability index, unsustainability is evident within Iran's fiscal policy. Therefore, unsustainability of Iran's fiscal policy has weakened economic growth. Fifth, Iran's fiscal unsustainability has increased the procyclical behavior of fiscal policy and as a result, exacerbated the fluctuations of economic cycles. Sixth, the increasing Iran's cyclical fiscal policy index reduces the reaction of the primary balance to the government debt. In other words, the increase in the procyclical behavior of the fiscal policy weakens Iran's fiscal sustainability
Yeganeh Mousavi Jahromi, Ayat Zayer,
Volume 8, Issue 3 (10-2008)
Volume 8, Issue 3 (10-2008)
Abstract
Budget deficit and ways of its financing,have different economic implications.The private consumption as one of the major components of the aggregate demand alongside with the private investment are also under the effects of the deficit.The total effects of the deficit can be separated into the primary and secondary effects.The primary effects of the defict is attributed to the causes of the deficit,while the secondary effects is related to the ways of deficit financing.The final effect is the sum of these two effects,which might be positive,negative or zero.The results of the study by the ARDL approach for the time period of 1342-1384 indicates that although the effect of the deficit on private consumption is positive but there is no longrun relationship between them.On the other hand effects of the deficit on private investment is negative.These results also show that the effects of the deficit on investment may last or endure for a long time and therefore it can be said that there is a longrun relationship between deficit and private investment.
Dr Hassan Khodavaisi, Ahmad Ezatti Shourgoli,
Volume 19, Issue 4 (12-2019)
Volume 19, Issue 4 (12-2019)
Abstract
With regard to the role of fiscal policy in reducing the financial crises, determining the magnitude of the fiscal policy multiplier after the 2007-2008 global crisis became one of the most challenging issues in the field of fiscal policy. In general, the magnitude of the fiscal policy multiplier is estimated larger than one according to the Keynesian viewpoint and smaller than one based on neoclassical viewpoint. The difference in the magnitude of the multiplier comes from the fact that economists believe that the fiscal policy multiplier is influenced by the degree of economic openness, the exchange rate regime, the way monetary policy is applied and the business cycle. Differences about the magnitude of the fiscal policy multiplier among schools of economic thought are evident in both theoretical and empirical dimensions. In this regard, this paper tries to estimate fiscal policy multiplier using structural vector autoregressive model (Blanchard and Peroti, 2002 method and Markov switching approach (Hall, 2009) using the seasonal data for Iran during the period (1990: 1-2017:3). The results of the structural vector autoregressive model showed that the instantaneous multiplier, 10-quarter cumulative multiplier, and the 20-quarter cumulative multiplier of the government expenditure were equal to 0.281, 0.304, and 0.445, respectively. In addition, the corresponding multipliers for taxes were -0. 079, - 0.107 and - 0.171, respectively. Since the fiscal policy multiplier varies based on the economic conditions, the results of the nonlinear Markov switching model showed that the government expenditure multiplier during the recession is 0.828 and it is larger than the same coefficient during the boom period (0.108), on one hand. On the other hand, the tax multiplier during the boom period (-0.194) is larger than its value during the period of recession (-0.092 ).
Mr. Ahmad Pourmohammadi, Dr Zohre Tabatabaienasab, Yhya Abtahi, Dr Mohammad Ali Dehqantafti,
Volume 22, Issue 3 (9-2022)
Volume 22, Issue 3 (9-2022)
Abstract
The 2008 global financial crisis and the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic have attracted interest in the issue of fiscal policy. Since fiscal policy plays an important role in alleviating the costs of these crises, understanding the relationships between fiscal policy components is crucial and has important implications for choosing fiscal policies in the field of public economics. This study aims to examine the causal links between the fiscal policy components, i.e., government expenditures (current and development) and government revenues (tax and oil) in Iran, using quarterly data for the period of 1990:2-2019:1. For this purpose, first, we employ the time domain Toda-Yamamoto causality test to check the causal relationship among these variables. Then, due to the various characteristics of variables in the frequency bands, we implement a dynamic analysis through wavelet coherence approach and wavelet phase-difference in order to explore the joint time-frequency domain causal relationship between government revenues and expenditure categories. The results of the wavelet analysis show that the linkage between the government revenues and expenditures pairs is not the same across all time horizons and a strong heterogeneity in the revealed interrelationships is detected over time and across scales. Overall, the results reveal various causal effects and confirm the expenditure dominance hypothesis for oil revenue, and revenue dominance hypothesis for tax revenue at different frequencies.
Mr Ahmad Pourmohammadi, Dr Zohreh Tabatabaiie Nasab, Dr Yhya Abtahi, Dr Mohammad Ali Dehqantafti,
Volume 24, Issue 2 (5-2024)
Volume 24, Issue 2 (5-2024)
Abstract
Introduction
Despite the increasing debate around the role of alternative renewable sources of energy such as solar and nuclear power, oil still has a central role for a vast portion of the world’s countries. Therefore, oil price is one of the key prices in the international economy, and its effects and mechanisms on macroeconomic variables has been an important topic of economic research. In oil-exporting countries, oil price fluctuations have implications for all macroeconomic and prudential policies but due to the government ownership of natural resources, fiscal policy is especially important and can be a main mechanism for transferring these fluctuations to the economy. In this regard, this study aims to analyze the complex relationships and dynamic co-movements between international oil price movements and macroeconomic variables, emphasizing the role of fiscal policy in a time-frequency approach in the years 1978-2020. For this purpose, we implement two novel wavelet analysis techniques, namely, multiple wavelet coherence (MWC) and partial wavelet coherence (PWC), which are used to explore the real relationship between variables. The use of the wavelet tool is superior to traditional tools because it allows the analyst to determine how the series interact at different frequencies and how they evolve over time. To the best of our knowledge, the current is the first paper to implement the wavelet framework to analyze the effects of oil price dynamics on macroeconomic variables in Iran. Therefore, this study makes a modest contribution to the empirical literature by unveiling the main transmission mechanism of oil prices at different time horizons.
Methodology
The econometrics techniques that have been previously used are focused on time domain analysis. This analysis may return incomplete and ambiguous information on the relationship between economic variables. Therefore, this study is focused on time and frequency domain analysis using the wavelet transformation approach that has been left out for the relationship dynamics among these variables.
The origin of wavelets can be traced back to Fourier analysis, which is the foundation of modern time-frequency analysis. Fourier transform, examine the periodicity of phenomena by assuming that they are stationary in time. But most economic and financial time series exhibit quite complicated patterns over time. The wavelet transform approach was introduced to overcome the limitations of the Fourier transform. In fact, if the frequency components are not stationary traditional spectral tools may miss such frequency components. The wavelet analyses do not follow the initial checks to observe if the series have unit root or not. The superior feature of the wavelet analysis is related to its flexibility in monitoring several non-stationary signals.
Wavelet Analysis is a method that allows simultaneous decomposition of original time series according to both time and frequency domains. This is very important for economics and finance, as many of the variables in this field can operate and interact differently on dissimilar time scales. So, in this paper, we used two innovative wavelet approaches to study and compare the interdependence between oil prices, non-oil GDP, public expenditure, and trade balance. This approach implements the estimation of the spectral features of time series as a function of time, displaying how the various periodic components of time series vary through time. To check the relevance of the coherence of multiple independents on a dependent one, we use multiple wavelet coherence (MWC), a similar method to the multiple correlations. The partial correlation is one of the tools that can be used in a simple correlation concept. In the wavelet, the researchers can attain this using partial wavelet coherence (PWC). This approach is able to identify the partial wavelet coherence between the two-time series y and x1 after eliminating the influence of the third time series x2. Hence, we use partial wavelet coherence to identify the wavelet coherence between oil prices and government expenditure when canceling out the effect of non-oil GDP and trade balance.
Results and Discussion
The results of the wavelet analysis show that there is a strong coherence between oil prices and the macroeconomic variables at different frequencies. multiple wavelet coherence, shows a high coherency between the four variables in the short-run (1-4 years) and in the long-run horizons (8-16 years). In fact, multiple wavelet coherence between variables shows that there is always a relationship between variables over time and different scales with different coefficients.
Partial wavelet coherence between oil and non-oil GDP has been significant by removing the effects of government expenditure in the short term during the years 1988 to 1992 and also 2000 to 2012. In the scale of 6 to 8 years from 2010, the partial coherence shows an approximate value of 0.6, which is maintained at this frequency until the end of the period. This issue shows the greater correlation between oil price fluctuations and non-oil GDP by removing the effects of fiscal policy fluctuations in these years. Also, by removing the effects of the trade balance, there is a partial wavelet coherence between the pairs of oil price and non-oil GDP from 1996 to 2012 in the short-term time horizon.
The partial wavelet coherence between oil price and trade balance by removing the effect of fiscal policy and also by removing the effect of non-oil GDP indicates a limited relationship between the pair of oil price and trade balance by removing the effects of other two variables during the study period. In both cases, the relationship between the two variables is limited to the early years of the study period, and there is no independent relationship in other areas.
The results of the partial wavelet coherence between oil price and government expenditure showed that by removing the effect of non-oil GDP, the highest correlation of the variable occurred in the short-term and medium-term region. In the short-term time horizon, during the years 1979 to 1992, a strong wavelet coherence can be seen between the oil prices and government expenditure, which was repeated during the years 2010 to 2011. Also, by keeping the variable effects of the trade balance constant until the end of the 80s, there is a co-movement between oil price and government expenditure independent of the effects of the trade balance. This net correlation between the two variables well indicates the role of fiscal policy in the transmission of oil price fluctuations in multiple time scales.
Conclusion
The most important effective factor in increasing oil price fluctuations is the unforeseen and increasing risks related to oil and its related industries. Since the world has seen rapid and successive developments in recent years (including the spread of disease, war, etc.), severe fluctuations have been observed in the global oil markets during these years. Therefore, in a fluctuating environment, oil prices have forced governments and policymakers to formulate policies to deal with the uncertainty of oil prices. To implement such policies, it will be useful to examine the relationship between oil price dynamics and its transmission mechanisms in the economy. In this regard, the present article analyzes the relationship between oil price dynamics and macroeconomic variables, emphasizing the role of fiscal policy in Iran through time-frequency analysis and the new approach of multiple and partial wavelet coherence.
The results of multiple wavelet coherence show the co-movement between oil price and other variables of the model in different time scales. In such a way that this co-movement shows the greatest intensity in short and long-time horizons. Also, the partial wavelet correlation results between the variables of oil price and non-oil GDP as well as government expenditures showed that by removing the effects of other variables, the co-movement between the pair of variables can still be observed in all time horizons. While regarding the trade balance, this net relationship with oil price was not observed.
In general, based on the partial wavelet coherence results, it can be shown that fiscal policy and economic growth are the main channels of oil price fluctuations transmission in this period, which are in line with the studies of Hossein et al. (2008) and El Anshasi (2008) who showed that Fiscal policies are the main propagation mechanism that transmits the oil price shocks to the economy.
Therefore, the reduction of oil price correlation by removing the effects of fiscal policy and business cycles shows the importance of the channel of fiscal policy and GDP in the transmission of oil price fluctuations. Therefore, it is recommended that the policymakers who adjust various economic stabilization schemes for greater stability, while paying attention to the main channels of oil financial resources flowing into the economy, should consider different frequency bands as well.
Despite the increasing debate around the role of alternative renewable sources of energy such as solar and nuclear power, oil still has a central role for a vast portion of the world’s countries. Therefore, oil price is one of the key prices in the international economy, and its effects and mechanisms on macroeconomic variables has been an important topic of economic research. In oil-exporting countries, oil price fluctuations have implications for all macroeconomic and prudential policies but due to the government ownership of natural resources, fiscal policy is especially important and can be a main mechanism for transferring these fluctuations to the economy. In this regard, this study aims to analyze the complex relationships and dynamic co-movements between international oil price movements and macroeconomic variables, emphasizing the role of fiscal policy in a time-frequency approach in the years 1978-2020. For this purpose, we implement two novel wavelet analysis techniques, namely, multiple wavelet coherence (MWC) and partial wavelet coherence (PWC), which are used to explore the real relationship between variables. The use of the wavelet tool is superior to traditional tools because it allows the analyst to determine how the series interact at different frequencies and how they evolve over time. To the best of our knowledge, the current is the first paper to implement the wavelet framework to analyze the effects of oil price dynamics on macroeconomic variables in Iran. Therefore, this study makes a modest contribution to the empirical literature by unveiling the main transmission mechanism of oil prices at different time horizons.
Methodology
The econometrics techniques that have been previously used are focused on time domain analysis. This analysis may return incomplete and ambiguous information on the relationship between economic variables. Therefore, this study is focused on time and frequency domain analysis using the wavelet transformation approach that has been left out for the relationship dynamics among these variables.
The origin of wavelets can be traced back to Fourier analysis, which is the foundation of modern time-frequency analysis. Fourier transform, examine the periodicity of phenomena by assuming that they are stationary in time. But most economic and financial time series exhibit quite complicated patterns over time. The wavelet transform approach was introduced to overcome the limitations of the Fourier transform. In fact, if the frequency components are not stationary traditional spectral tools may miss such frequency components. The wavelet analyses do not follow the initial checks to observe if the series have unit root or not. The superior feature of the wavelet analysis is related to its flexibility in monitoring several non-stationary signals.
Wavelet Analysis is a method that allows simultaneous decomposition of original time series according to both time and frequency domains. This is very important for economics and finance, as many of the variables in this field can operate and interact differently on dissimilar time scales. So, in this paper, we used two innovative wavelet approaches to study and compare the interdependence between oil prices, non-oil GDP, public expenditure, and trade balance. This approach implements the estimation of the spectral features of time series as a function of time, displaying how the various periodic components of time series vary through time. To check the relevance of the coherence of multiple independents on a dependent one, we use multiple wavelet coherence (MWC), a similar method to the multiple correlations. The partial correlation is one of the tools that can be used in a simple correlation concept. In the wavelet, the researchers can attain this using partial wavelet coherence (PWC). This approach is able to identify the partial wavelet coherence between the two-time series y and x1 after eliminating the influence of the third time series x2. Hence, we use partial wavelet coherence to identify the wavelet coherence between oil prices and government expenditure when canceling out the effect of non-oil GDP and trade balance.
Results and Discussion
The results of the wavelet analysis show that there is a strong coherence between oil prices and the macroeconomic variables at different frequencies. multiple wavelet coherence, shows a high coherency between the four variables in the short-run (1-4 years) and in the long-run horizons (8-16 years). In fact, multiple wavelet coherence between variables shows that there is always a relationship between variables over time and different scales with different coefficients.
Partial wavelet coherence between oil and non-oil GDP has been significant by removing the effects of government expenditure in the short term during the years 1988 to 1992 and also 2000 to 2012. In the scale of 6 to 8 years from 2010, the partial coherence shows an approximate value of 0.6, which is maintained at this frequency until the end of the period. This issue shows the greater correlation between oil price fluctuations and non-oil GDP by removing the effects of fiscal policy fluctuations in these years. Also, by removing the effects of the trade balance, there is a partial wavelet coherence between the pairs of oil price and non-oil GDP from 1996 to 2012 in the short-term time horizon.
The partial wavelet coherence between oil price and trade balance by removing the effect of fiscal policy and also by removing the effect of non-oil GDP indicates a limited relationship between the pair of oil price and trade balance by removing the effects of other two variables during the study period. In both cases, the relationship between the two variables is limited to the early years of the study period, and there is no independent relationship in other areas.
The results of the partial wavelet coherence between oil price and government expenditure showed that by removing the effect of non-oil GDP, the highest correlation of the variable occurred in the short-term and medium-term region. In the short-term time horizon, during the years 1979 to 1992, a strong wavelet coherence can be seen between the oil prices and government expenditure, which was repeated during the years 2010 to 2011. Also, by keeping the variable effects of the trade balance constant until the end of the 80s, there is a co-movement between oil price and government expenditure independent of the effects of the trade balance. This net correlation between the two variables well indicates the role of fiscal policy in the transmission of oil price fluctuations in multiple time scales.
Conclusion
The most important effective factor in increasing oil price fluctuations is the unforeseen and increasing risks related to oil and its related industries. Since the world has seen rapid and successive developments in recent years (including the spread of disease, war, etc.), severe fluctuations have been observed in the global oil markets during these years. Therefore, in a fluctuating environment, oil prices have forced governments and policymakers to formulate policies to deal with the uncertainty of oil prices. To implement such policies, it will be useful to examine the relationship between oil price dynamics and its transmission mechanisms in the economy. In this regard, the present article analyzes the relationship between oil price dynamics and macroeconomic variables, emphasizing the role of fiscal policy in Iran through time-frequency analysis and the new approach of multiple and partial wavelet coherence.
The results of multiple wavelet coherence show the co-movement between oil price and other variables of the model in different time scales. In such a way that this co-movement shows the greatest intensity in short and long-time horizons. Also, the partial wavelet correlation results between the variables of oil price and non-oil GDP as well as government expenditures showed that by removing the effects of other variables, the co-movement between the pair of variables can still be observed in all time horizons. While regarding the trade balance, this net relationship with oil price was not observed.
In general, based on the partial wavelet coherence results, it can be shown that fiscal policy and economic growth are the main channels of oil price fluctuations transmission in this period, which are in line with the studies of Hossein et al. (2008) and El Anshasi (2008) who showed that Fiscal policies are the main propagation mechanism that transmits the oil price shocks to the economy.
Therefore, the reduction of oil price correlation by removing the effects of fiscal policy and business cycles shows the importance of the channel of fiscal policy and GDP in the transmission of oil price fluctuations. Therefore, it is recommended that the policymakers who adjust various economic stabilization schemes for greater stability, while paying attention to the main channels of oil financial resources flowing into the economy, should consider different frequency bands as well.
Dr Saeed Dorokhshi Moghaddam, Dr Bahram Sahabi, Dr Hassan Heydari, Dr Sajad Barkhordari,
Volume 24, Issue 4 (12-2024)
Volume 24, Issue 4 (12-2024)
Abstract
Aim and Introduction
The belief that innovation is a crucial factor in driving economic growth has led governments worldwide to increase investment in research and development (R&D). Many countries intervene in the R&D process of the private sector by utilizing policy tools such as tax credits, subsidies, direct financing, and research and development cost subsidies. Data shows a significant rise in the use of tax incentives in recent years. In Iran, there has been a particular interest in implementing tax exemptions for knowledge-based companies and providing tax credits for all firms.
Empirically, the existing literature in this field is still underdeveloped, particularly in the context of developing countries. This report aims to contribute to the existing knowledge by evaluating the impact of tax exemptions on R&D expenditures in Iran as a developing country.
Methodology
To assess the effect of tax exemptions, we are interested in the R&D intensity index, which represents the ratio of R&D expenditures to GDP at the national level and the ratio of R&D costs to company income at the company level. The variable in question is a ratio between 0 and 1, like many other economic variables such as participation rates, market shares, debt-to-finance ratios, etc. The limited nature of such variables - and in some cases the large and significant accumulation of data at one or both limits - leads to limitations in estimates and inferences, and its economic modeling should be done with special approaches. In particular, the usual use of linear models is not a very accurate and correct method because it does not guarantee that the values predicted by these estimates are in the range of 0 and 1. In recent years, this concern has led researchers to focus on functional forms resulting from such data and develop models called Fractional Regression Models (FRMs).
In the model, the dependent variable is the share of a company's current R&D costs relative to total costs, which serves as a proxy for R&D intensity. The explanatory variables include the following:
Using a fractional logistic regression approach on the data of 2,678 knowledge-based and industrial companies collected in 2020, the effects of tax exemptions for knowledge-based companies have been evaluated. The results of this article confirm the positive and significant effects of this exemption on research and development costs of companies. At the same time, it is indicated that, compared to other variables in the model, the presence of researchers, the level of knowledge-based development of the location of the company, and the opportunity for access to external financial resources have had a greater effect on the share of research and development expenses. However, these incentives have been more effective than the company's technology level. Additionally, the size of the company has a significant negative relationship with the interest ratio.
Discussion and Conclusion
While our study supports the use of tax incentives, it is crucial to consider the broader economic landscape. Our findings highlight the importance of human resources and external funding. To effectively support knowledge-based companies and to create a more R&D-intensive country, it is not enough to solely provide tax exemptions for firms. However, mechanisms must be in place to foster reaching much more qualified human resources and to a greater extent finance. Financial incentives should be utilized in a manner that minimizes costs and maximizes economic growth and productivity. Future research can explore how to optimize the use of these tools, offering valuable insights to policymakers
The belief that innovation is a crucial factor in driving economic growth has led governments worldwide to increase investment in research and development (R&D). Many countries intervene in the R&D process of the private sector by utilizing policy tools such as tax credits, subsidies, direct financing, and research and development cost subsidies. Data shows a significant rise in the use of tax incentives in recent years. In Iran, there has been a particular interest in implementing tax exemptions for knowledge-based companies and providing tax credits for all firms.
Empirically, the existing literature in this field is still underdeveloped, particularly in the context of developing countries. This report aims to contribute to the existing knowledge by evaluating the impact of tax exemptions on R&D expenditures in Iran as a developing country.
Methodology
To assess the effect of tax exemptions, we are interested in the R&D intensity index, which represents the ratio of R&D expenditures to GDP at the national level and the ratio of R&D costs to company income at the company level. The variable in question is a ratio between 0 and 1, like many other economic variables such as participation rates, market shares, debt-to-finance ratios, etc. The limited nature of such variables - and in some cases the large and significant accumulation of data at one or both limits - leads to limitations in estimates and inferences, and its economic modeling should be done with special approaches. In particular, the usual use of linear models is not a very accurate and correct method because it does not guarantee that the values predicted by these estimates are in the range of 0 and 1. In recent years, this concern has led researchers to focus on functional forms resulting from such data and develop models called Fractional Regression Models (FRMs).
In the model, the dependent variable is the share of a company's current R&D costs relative to total costs, which serves as a proxy for R&D intensity. The explanatory variables include the following:
- Researchers: The number of researchers in the company, logged.
- Size: The sum of current and capital expenses of the company, used as an index of the size of the company in logarithmic form.
- Avalibility of External Finance: For each company which used any financial resources rather than its internal resources, the value of this variable is 1, and in cases where the financing is completely internal, it is considered as 0.
- The level of knowledge-based development (KBEDev): A variable based on previous studies, ranging from 1 (lowest level) to 3 (highest level).
- Tax incentive: For those companies subject to this exemption, the variable amount is 1, and for the rest, it is 0.
- Technology Intensity (Tech Level): According to the industry in which companies operate and using the categories used for technology leveling in the two leading organizations in this field, UNCTAD and OECD, number 3 represents the high level, number 2 represents the medium level, and number 1 represents the low level.
Using a fractional logistic regression approach on the data of 2,678 knowledge-based and industrial companies collected in 2020, the effects of tax exemptions for knowledge-based companies have been evaluated. The results of this article confirm the positive and significant effects of this exemption on research and development costs of companies. At the same time, it is indicated that, compared to other variables in the model, the presence of researchers, the level of knowledge-based development of the location of the company, and the opportunity for access to external financial resources have had a greater effect on the share of research and development expenses. However, these incentives have been more effective than the company's technology level. Additionally, the size of the company has a significant negative relationship with the interest ratio.
Discussion and Conclusion
While our study supports the use of tax incentives, it is crucial to consider the broader economic landscape. Our findings highlight the importance of human resources and external funding. To effectively support knowledge-based companies and to create a more R&D-intensive country, it is not enough to solely provide tax exemptions for firms. However, mechanisms must be in place to foster reaching much more qualified human resources and to a greater extent finance. Financial incentives should be utilized in a manner that minimizes costs and maximizes economic growth and productivity. Future research can explore how to optimize the use of these tools, offering valuable insights to policymakers
Mr Hossein Aghilifar, Dr Khosrow Piraei, Dr Hashem Zare, Dr Mehrzad Ebrahimi,
Volume 25, Issue 1 (3-2025)
Volume 25, Issue 1 (3-2025)
Abstract
Aim and Introduction
A balanced government budget plays a decisive role in the stability of the macroeconomics, and the continuous budget deficit puts the stability of the economy at risk. A budget deficit transpires when the expansion in government expenditures exceeds the growth in government revenue. On the other hand, one of the reasons for the government debt enlargement is the continuous budget deficit. Permanent budget deficit has harmful effects on the economy. Therefore, economists recommend that the government should prevent excessive increase in debt by maintaining a sustainable fiscal policy. Fiscal policy is sustainable when the government reacts to the debt swelling by creating an adequate budget surplus. On the contrary, unsustainable fiscal policy causes crises such as suboptimal allocation of resources, failure in financial markets and high inflation rates. Iran's economy has always been struggling with the permanent budget deficit and high debt stocks. The major motive for this is the dependence of the Iranian government's revenues on the sale of crude oil and its products, because with the decrease in oil revenues, the government resorted to borrowing to compensate for its budget deficit, resulting in debt accretion. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the perspective of fiscal sustainability in Iran. The objective of this research is to assess Iran's government fiscal sustainability and its influential factors by employing annual data of Iran's economy from 1971 to 2022 and by utilizing constant parameter fiscal reaction functions including linear and non-linear models, time-varying parameter fiscal reaction function, Markov-switching fiscal regime change model and fiscal reaction function including control variables.
Methodology
The existing literature about fiscal sustainability in Iran, has mainly examined fiscal sustainability in the framework of constant parameter linear fiscal reaction function. This research assesses different models of fiscal reaction function, such as constant parameter linear and non-linear models, time-varying parameter models and Markov-switching fiscal regime change models regarding Iran's fiscal sustainability. It also evaluates the dominant variables affecting Iran's fiscal sustainability.
Results and Discussion
In this research, firstly, the Iran's government fiscal sustainability is tested through the constant parameter linear and non-linear fiscal reaction functions, and to identify the variables affecting fiscal sustainability, the model including control variables is utilized. Then the Markov-switching fiscal regime change model and the time-varying parameter fiscal reaction function are estimated. Among the constant parameter linear and non-linear models, only the linear model including control variables has a significant debt-to-GDP ratio coefficient, which its sign is negative. Hence, it indicates that the fiscal policy implemented in Iran is unsustainable. The Markov-Switching fiscal regime change model shows the existence of two fiscal regimes, one unsustainable fiscal rgime where the reaction of the primary budget balance to public debt is significant and negative and one sustainable fiscal regime where the reaction of the primary budget balance to public debt is insignificant and positive. Also, the results show that the expected duration of the unsustainable fiscal regime is longer than the expected duration of the sustainable fiscal regime. The results of the time-varying parameter model show that the trend of the smoothed changes of the time-varying parameter is downward during the time, therefore, Iran's fiscal policy has proceeded in an unsustainable direction.
Conclusion
The results of the model including the control variables and the time-varying parameter model and the Markov-switching fiscal regime change model show that Iran's fiscal policy is unsustainable. Also, on the basis of this research findings, the variables of the output gap, the government revenue to GDP ratio and exchange rate fluctuation have a positive impact, and the variables of the government real cyclical expenditure and the old population ratio have a negative impact on the fiscal sustainability in Iran. Based on the results of this research, the government debt reduction has not been the priority of the governments in Iran. This has caused unsustainable fiscal policy which in turn, made the Iranian economy more and more vulnerable with regard to external shocks. While developing revenue sources and reducing dependence on oil revenues, the government should reduce its borrowing and therefore decrease the public debt and take steps towards sustainable fiscal policy to help achieving economic stability and sustainable growth in the long-term
A balanced government budget plays a decisive role in the stability of the macroeconomics, and the continuous budget deficit puts the stability of the economy at risk. A budget deficit transpires when the expansion in government expenditures exceeds the growth in government revenue. On the other hand, one of the reasons for the government debt enlargement is the continuous budget deficit. Permanent budget deficit has harmful effects on the economy. Therefore, economists recommend that the government should prevent excessive increase in debt by maintaining a sustainable fiscal policy. Fiscal policy is sustainable when the government reacts to the debt swelling by creating an adequate budget surplus. On the contrary, unsustainable fiscal policy causes crises such as suboptimal allocation of resources, failure in financial markets and high inflation rates. Iran's economy has always been struggling with the permanent budget deficit and high debt stocks. The major motive for this is the dependence of the Iranian government's revenues on the sale of crude oil and its products, because with the decrease in oil revenues, the government resorted to borrowing to compensate for its budget deficit, resulting in debt accretion. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the perspective of fiscal sustainability in Iran. The objective of this research is to assess Iran's government fiscal sustainability and its influential factors by employing annual data of Iran's economy from 1971 to 2022 and by utilizing constant parameter fiscal reaction functions including linear and non-linear models, time-varying parameter fiscal reaction function, Markov-switching fiscal regime change model and fiscal reaction function including control variables.
Methodology
The existing literature about fiscal sustainability in Iran, has mainly examined fiscal sustainability in the framework of constant parameter linear fiscal reaction function. This research assesses different models of fiscal reaction function, such as constant parameter linear and non-linear models, time-varying parameter models and Markov-switching fiscal regime change models regarding Iran's fiscal sustainability. It also evaluates the dominant variables affecting Iran's fiscal sustainability.
Results and Discussion
In this research, firstly, the Iran's government fiscal sustainability is tested through the constant parameter linear and non-linear fiscal reaction functions, and to identify the variables affecting fiscal sustainability, the model including control variables is utilized. Then the Markov-switching fiscal regime change model and the time-varying parameter fiscal reaction function are estimated. Among the constant parameter linear and non-linear models, only the linear model including control variables has a significant debt-to-GDP ratio coefficient, which its sign is negative. Hence, it indicates that the fiscal policy implemented in Iran is unsustainable. The Markov-Switching fiscal regime change model shows the existence of two fiscal regimes, one unsustainable fiscal rgime where the reaction of the primary budget balance to public debt is significant and negative and one sustainable fiscal regime where the reaction of the primary budget balance to public debt is insignificant and positive. Also, the results show that the expected duration of the unsustainable fiscal regime is longer than the expected duration of the sustainable fiscal regime. The results of the time-varying parameter model show that the trend of the smoothed changes of the time-varying parameter is downward during the time, therefore, Iran's fiscal policy has proceeded in an unsustainable direction.
Conclusion
The results of the model including the control variables and the time-varying parameter model and the Markov-switching fiscal regime change model show that Iran's fiscal policy is unsustainable. Also, on the basis of this research findings, the variables of the output gap, the government revenue to GDP ratio and exchange rate fluctuation have a positive impact, and the variables of the government real cyclical expenditure and the old population ratio have a negative impact on the fiscal sustainability in Iran. Based on the results of this research, the government debt reduction has not been the priority of the governments in Iran. This has caused unsustainable fiscal policy which in turn, made the Iranian economy more and more vulnerable with regard to external shocks. While developing revenue sources and reducing dependence on oil revenues, the government should reduce its borrowing and therefore decrease the public debt and take steps towards sustainable fiscal policy to help achieving economic stability and sustainable growth in the long-term
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