A dynamic panel, empirical investigation on the link between inflation and fiscal imbalances. Does heterogeneity matter?

Abstract

This study empirically attempts to unveil the contradictive findings regarding the relationship between fiscal imbalances and inflation in the context of the latest theoretical indications. The empirical analysis covers the period of 1970 to 2009 and applies dynamic panel techniques in a pool of 52 countries that comprises 19 developed and 33 developing ones. This segmentation is applied to illustrate the groups'specific features and the implications of heterogeneity. The findings provide supportive evidence for developing countries. We also find a significant degree of heterogeneity between the groups and the statistical significance of the relationship between fiscal imbalances and inflation in the case of developed countries cannot be ratified.