Fiscal Policy Events and Interest Rate Swap Spreads: some Evidence from the EU
JOURNAL
YEAR
Sep 21, 2007
TYPE
Articles in journals
AUTHORS
Afonso, A., Strauch, R.
VOL Nº
17
PAGES
15
ABSTRACT
This paper assesses the importance given in capital markets to the credibility of the European fiscal framework. We evaluate to which extent relevant fiscal policy events taking place in 2002 produced a reaction in the long-term bond segment of the capital markets. Firstly, we identify the relevant fiscal policy events. Secondly, we estimate the impact of these fiscal events on the interest rate swap spreads, which is our measure for risk premium. According to our results the reaction of swap spreads, when significant, have been mostly around five basis points or less.
JEL CLASS
KEYWORDS
Fiscal policy events,Stability and Growth Pact,Interest rate swap spreads,