Debt erosion: Asymmetric response to demand and supply shocks

Abstract

This paper explores the effect of inflation supply and demand shocks on government debt for a sample of 32 advanced economies and 24 emerging markets from 1970 to 2022. The shocks are identified using a sign-restricted structural vector autoregression model with quarterly data. Estimations of dynamic panel regressions and local projections suggest that supply shocks lead to persistent increases in government debt, while demand shocks result in long-lasting declines. Furthermore, high debt levels amplify the impacts of both supply and demand shocks by more than three times. Specifically, supply shocks contribute to an increase in debt through elevated borrowing costs and prolonged depreciation, whereas demand shocks erode debt through persistent improvements in the primary balance, driven by increased revenues.