Do Budget Deficits Cause Inflation?

The data show that some countries — usually less developed nations — with high inflation also have large budget deficits. Developed countries, however, show little evidence of a tie between deficit spending and inflation. In “Do Budget Deficits Cause Inflation?,” Keith Sill states that the extent to which monetary policy is used to help balance the government’s budget is the key to determining the effect of budget deficits on inflation. He examines the theory and evidence on the link between fiscal and monetary policy and, thus, between deficits and inflation.

This article appeared in the Third Quarter 2005 edition of Business Review.