
# Sustainability Constraints and Government Debt

##### Setup:

Consider a simple production economy populated by a large number of identical infinitely lived individuals.

In each period $$t$$, there are two goods: labor $$l_t$$ and a consumption good, $$c_t$$. The per-period utility function is $$U(c_t,l_t)$$ and individuals discount the future at rate $$\beta$$. A constant returns-to-scale technology is available to transform one unit of labor into one unit of output. The output can be used for private consumption or for government consumption.

The per-capita level of government consumption in each period, denoted $$g_t$$, is exogenously specified. This government consumption is given by $$g_H$$ in even periods and $$g_L = 0$$ in odd periods. The initial stock of government debt is given and is zero. The government can default on inherited debt in any period. The government raises revenues by levying a proportional tax $$\tau_t$$ on labor income.

#### Define a competitive equilibrium for exogenously specified policy.

Note: Suppose the endowment of potential labor each period is $$\bar{l}$$. Let $$B_t$$ denote the stock of government debt at the beginning of period $$t$$. Let $$\bar{B}\equiv \sum_{t=0}^\infty \left(\prod_{s=0}^t {1\over R_s}\right) w_t \bar{l}$$ denote a natural borrowing limit for the household. Let $$z_t$$ denote whether the government defaults, with $z_t = \begin{cases} 0, & \text{if default at period } t\\ 1, & \text{otherwise} \end{cases}$

###### Competitive Equilibrium

Given exogenous policy $$\left\{ g_t, z_t, B_{t+1}, \tau_t \right\}_{t=0}^\infty$$, parameters $$(\beta, \bar{l})$$, and initial stock of debt $$\bar{B_0}=0$$, a competitive equilibrium in this economy consists of the following sets:

• An allocation for the representative household: $$HH\equiv \left\{ c_{t}, s_{t+1}, l_t \right\}_{t=0}^\infty$$
• An allocation for the firm: $$\left\{ l^f_{t} \right\}_{t=0}^\infty$$
• and Prices: $$\left\{R_t, w_t \right\}_{t=0}^\infty$$
Such that the following conditions are satisfied:
• HH Optimization: Taking prices and policy as given, the household allocation solves: $\max_{HH} \sum_{t=0}^\infty \beta^t U( c_{t},l_{t})$ such that: $\bar{s_0}=\bar{B_0} \text{ given}$ and such that for all $$t\geq 0:$$ \begin{align} c_{t}\geq 0, \; &\; s_{t+1}\geq 0, \;\; l_t \in [0,\bar{l}] \mytag{Non-Negativity}\\ c_t + s_{t+1} & \leq R_t z_t s_t + (1-\tau_t) w_t l_t \mytag{Budget}\\ s_{t+1} & \geq -\bar{B} \mytag{No Ponzi}\\ \end{align}
• Firm Optimization: Taking prices as given, in each period, the firm's allocation solves $\max_{l_t^f}\; {l_t^f} - w_t l_t^f$
• Gov Budget Balance: In all periods $$t$$, the government's budget is balanced: $g_t + R_t z_t B_t = B_t+1 + \tau_t w_t l_t$
• Markets Clear: In all periods $$t$$, \begin{align} l_t^f &= l_t \\ B_t &= s_t\\ c_{t} + g_{t} &= l_t \mytag{Resource Constraint}\\ \end{align}

#### First Order Conditions:

Let $$U_{ct}$$ be shorthand for $${\partial \over \partial c_t}U(c_t, l_t)$$. Likewise for $$l_t$$.

Assumming an interior solution where only the budget constraint binds in the household's problem, and letting $$\lambda_t$$ be the Lagrange Multipliers for the Budget constraints, the first-order conditions are: \begin{align} {\color{name}c_{t}:} && {\beta^t U_{ct}} &= \lambda_t \\ {\color{name}l_{t}:} && {\beta^t U_{lt}} &= -\lambda_t (1-\tau_t) w_t \\ {\color{name}s_{t+1}:} && \lambda_t &= \lambda_{t+1}R_{t+1}z_{t+1} \\ {\color{name}l^f_{t}:} && w_t &= 1\\ \end{align} Combining the first order conditions, we get: $\color{red}{U_{lt} \over U_{ct}}=-(1-\tau_t)$ $\color{blue} {\lambda_t\over\lambda_{t+1}} = {U_{ct} \over \beta U_{ct+1}} = {(1-\tau_{t+1}) U_{lt} \over (1-\tau_t) \beta U_{lt+1} } = R_{t+1}z_{t+1}$ There is also the transversality condition: $0 = \lim_{t\to\infty} \lambda_t s_{t+1} = \lim_{t\to\infty} {\beta^t U_{ct}} s_{t+1}$ These equations, along with the market clearing and budget constraints, characterize the equilibrium.

Rearranging the budget constraint and plugging in the above: \begin{align} R_t z_t s_t &= c_t - {\color{red}(1-\tau_t)} l_t + s_{t+1}\\ R_t z_t s_t &= c_t + {\color{red} {U_{lt} \over U_{ct}}} l_t + s_{t+1} \\ R_t z_t s_t U_{ct} &= c_t U_{ct} + l_t U_{lt} + s_{t+1} U_{ct} \mytag{*}\\ \end{align} Similarly, note that: \begin{align} {\color{blue} R_{t+1} z_{t+1} } s_{t+1} U_{ct+1} &= c_{t+1} U_{ct+1} + l_{t+1} U_{lt+1} + s_{t+2} U_{ct+1} \\ {\color{blue}{U_{ct} \over \beta U_{ct+1}}} s_{t+1} U_{ct+1} &= c_{t+1} U_{ct+1} + l_{t+1} U_{lt+1} + s_{t+2} U_{ct+1} \\ s_{t+1} U_{ct} &= \beta \left[c_{t+1} U_{ct+1} + l_{t+1} U_{lt+1} + s_{t+2} U_{ct+1}\right] \mytag{**}\\ \end{align} Repeatedly Plugging ** into *, we get that: \begin{align} R_0 z_0 s_0 U_{c0} &= c_1 U_{c1} + l_1 U_{l1} + s_{2} U_{c1}\\ &= c_1 U_{c1} + l_1 U_{l1} + \beta \left[c_{2} U_{c2} + l_{2} U_{l2} + s_{3} U_{c2}\right] \\ & \;\; \vdots \\ &= \sum_{t=0}^\infty\beta^t\left[c_{t} U_{ct} + l_{t} U_{lt}\right] + \lim_{t\to\infty} {\beta^t U_{ct}} s_{t+1} \\ \end{align} The left-hand side is equal to zero because $$s_0 = B_0 = 0$$ is given by the problem, and the last term on the right-hand side is zero by the transversality condition. Thus we get the following: $\boxed{0 = \sum_{t=0}^\infty\beta^t\left[c_{t} U_{ct} + l_{t} U_{lt}\right] } \mytag{Implementability Constraint}$

#### Suppose now that a benevolent government wishes to implement the best competitive equilibrium. Set up the Ramsey problem.

###### Ramsey Problem

Given exogenous spending requirements $$\left\{ g_t\right\}_{t=0}^\infty$$, and parameters $$(\beta, \bar{l})$$, the Ramsey problem is to choose household allocations to solve: $\max_{\left\{ c_{t}, l_t \right\}_t} \sum_{t=0}^\infty \beta^t U( c_{t},l_{t})$ such that $0 = \sum_{t=0}^\infty\beta^t\left[c_{t} U_{ct} + l_{t} U_{lt}\right] \mytag{Implementability}$ and such that for all $$t\geq 0:$$ \begin{align} c_{t}\geq 0, \; &\; l_t \in [0,\bar{l}] \mytag{Non-Negativity}\\ c_t + g_t &\leq l_t \mytag{Feasibility}\\ \end{align}

#### Suppose now the government lacks commitment. Assume policies and allocations can depend on the entire history of policies. Define a Sustainable Equilibrium.

Let $$\pi_t \equiv (g_t, z_t, \tau_t, B_{t+1})$$ be a policy at time $$t$$. Let $$h_t \equiv (B_0, \pi_0, \pi_1, \cdots, \pi_t)$$ be a history of government policies up to including that at time $$t$$.

The government now has policy rules, which map histories onto next-period policies: $\sigma^t \equiv (z^t:h_{t-1}\to \{0,1\},\;\;\; \tau^t:h_{t-1}\to \mathbb{R}_+, \;\;\; B^{t+1}:h_{t-1}\to \mathbb{R})$ And the household now has allocation rules: $HH^t \equiv (c^t:h_{t}\to \mathbb{R}_+,\;\;\; s^{t+1}:h_{t}\to \mathbb{R},\;\;\; l^{t}:h_{t}\to [0,\bar{l}])$

Additionally, the firm's problem in this environment will simply imply that $$w^t (h_t)=1$$. So for simplicity, I will exclude the firm's problem and wages from the following definition.

###### Sustainable Equilibrium

Then given exogenous spending requirements $$\left\{ g_t \right\}_{t=0}^\infty$$, parameters $$(\beta, \bar{l})$$, and initial stock of debt $$\bar{B_0}=0$$, a sustainable equilibrium in this economy consists of:

• Allocation rules for the representative household: $$HH \equiv \left\{ HH^t \right\}_{t=0}^\infty$$
• Policy rules for the government: $$G \equiv \left\{ G^t \right\}_{t=0}^\infty$$
• and Pricing kernels: $$\left\{R^t:h_t\to \mathbb{R}_+) \right\}_{t=0}^\infty$$
Such that the following conditions are satisfied:
• HH Optimization: Taking prices and policy as given, for all time periods $$T$$ and for all $$h_T$$, the household allocation rules solve: $\max_{\left\{HH^t\right\}_{t=T}^\infty} \sum_{t=T}^\infty \beta^{t-T} U( c^t(h_s),l^t(h_s))$ such that for all $$t\geq T:$$, and for all $$h_t$$: \begin{align} c^{t}(h_t)\geq 0, \;\;\; \; s^{t+1}(h_t) & \geq 0, \;\; \;\; l^t(h_t) \in [0,\bar{l}] \mytag{NNC}\\ c^t(h_t) + s^{t+1}(h_t) & \leq R^t(h_t) z^t(h_{t-1}) s^t(h_{t-1}) + (1-\tau^t(h_{t-1})) l^t(h_t) \mytag{Budget}\\ s^{t+1}(h_t) & \geq -\bar{B} \mytag{No Ponzi}\\ \end{align}
• Gov Optimization: Given HH allocation rules, for all time periods $$T$$ and for all $$h_T$$, the government's policy rules solve: $\max_{\left\{G^t\right\}_{t=T}^\infty} \sum_{t=T}^\infty \beta^{t-T} U( c^t(h_s),l^t(h_s))$ such that for all $$t\geq T:$$, and for all $$h_t$$: $g_t + R^t(h_t) z^t(h_{t-1}) B^t(h_{t-2}) = B^{t+1}(h_{t-1}) + \tau^t(h_{t-1}) l^t(h_t) \mytag{Gov BB}$
• Markets Clear: In all periods $$t$$, and for all histories $$h_t$$ \begin{align} B^t(h_{t-2}) &= s_t(h_{t-1})\\ c^{t}(h_t) + g_t &= l^t(h_t) \mytag{Resource Constraint}\\ \end{align}

#### Without commitment, what is the worst sustainable equilibrium?

Autarky is the worst sustainable equilibrium, if it is feasible.

By autarky, I mean that in the outcome induced by the sustainable equilibrium, $$B_t=s_t=0=z_t \;\forall t$$, and so $$g_t$$ is financed purely through taxes on labor income: $\tau_t = \begin{cases} 0, & \text{in odd periods}\\ {g_H \over l_t}, & \text{in even periods} \end{cases}$ And $$c_t,l_t$$ are such that $$c_t = (1-{g_t \over l_t})l_t = l_t-g_t$$ and ${U_{lt} \over U_{ct}}=-(1-\tau_t) = \begin{cases} -1, & \text{in odd periods}\\ -1 + {g_H \over l_t}, & \text{in even periods} \end{cases}$

Note that autarky is sustainable. If the government has decided never to honor its debts in any possible history, then the household choosing to never lend money is a best response. And likewise, if the household never lends, then the government cannot borrow, and so may as well not honor its debts.

Autarky must be the worst sustainable equilibrium because at every possible history, deviating to autarky is feasible. The government could decide to start defaulting, and the household could decide to stop lending. Thus if there is any non-autarky sustainable equilibrium, the payoffs must be at least as good as autarky for it to satisfy the HH and Gov optimization problems in the definition of the sustainable equilibrium.

Going forward, let $$U^A_t$$ denote the per-period utility to the household from the autarky allocation at time $$t$$.

##### Without commitment, show that the best sustainable equilibrium solves a programming problem. Develop this programming problem. Show that the key constraint is any allocations must satisfy a sustainability constraint. The right side of this constraint is the utility associated with the best one shot deviation plus the sum of discounted utilities associated with the worst continuation equilibrium.

Consider the class of grim trigger strategies, where at time zero, the policy and allocation rules implement a competitive equilibrium, and if the government ever deviates from this plan, then the household stops lending. (And the government will always default if it deviated in the past.)

For any outcome capable of being induced by a sustainable equilibrium, this outcome can also be induced using a grim trigger strategy. The grim trigger also yields a sustainable equilibrium because, if the outcome is preferable to whatever happens in a deviation in the original sustainable equilibrium, then it will be preferable to deviation followed by autarky, and so the government will not deviate if this grim trigger is a credible threat. And secondly, this grim trigger is a credible threat because given that the government will start defaulting, it is a best response for the household to stop lending in any future history; while if the household stops lending, then it is a best response for the government to start always defaulting.

But what about the other direction? What outcomes can be induced by a grim trigger strategy? It is not enough for an outcome to be better than autarky. It must also be good enough that the utility loss of autarky is strong enough to overwhelm the benefits from deviation. Let $$U^D(h_{t})$$ be the maximum possible utility that can be achieved in period $$t+1$$ given history $$h_{t}$$, and given that credit markets will subsequently close down:

$U^D(h_t) = \max_{z, \tau, c, l}$ subject to \begin{align} c &\leq (1-\tau) l + R_{t+1}(h_{t+1}) z s_{t+1} (h_t)\\ g_{t+1} + R_{t+1}(h_{t+1}) z s_{t+1} (h_t) &= \tau l\\ {U_{lt}\over U_{ct}} &= -(1-\tau) \end{align}
(The last condition comes from the fact that the government doesn't directly choose the deviation allocation.)

Then any outcome $$\left\{ c_t, s_{t+1}, l_t \right\}_t, h$$ induced by a sustainable equilibrium satifies the constraint that at all points in time $$T$$, the continuation of the planned outcome is better than the value of the best one shot deviation plus the value of autarky: $\sum_{t=T}^\infty \beta^{t-T} U(c_t,l_t) \geq U^D(h_{T-1}) + \sum_{t=T}^\infty \beta^{t-T} U^A_t \mytag{Sustainability Constraint}$ Also note that this condition is sufficient to prevent the government from deviating from a plan which induces this outcome.

In order to find the best sustainable equilbrium, we modify the Ramsey problem to include this sustainability constraint.

###### Best Sustainable Outcome

Given exogenous spending requirements $$\left\{ g_t\right\}_{t=0}^\infty$$, and parameters $$(\beta, \bar{l})$$, the allocations in the best sustainable equilibrium are found by solving: $\max_{\left\{ c_{t}, l_t \right\}_t} \sum_{t=0}^\infty \beta^t U( c_{t},l_{t})$ such that $0 = \sum_{t=0}^\infty\beta^t\left[c_{t} U_{ct} + l_{t} U_{lt}\right] \mytag{Implementability}$ and such that for all $$t\geq 0:$$ \begin{align} c_{t}\geq 0, \; &\; l_t \in [0,\bar{l}] \mytag{Non-Negativity}\\ c_t + g_t &\leq l_t \mytag{Feasibility}\\ \sum_{T=t}^\infty \beta^{T-t} U(c_T,l_T) &\geq U^D(h_{t-1}) + \sum_{T=t}^\infty \beta^{T-t} U^A_T \mytag{Sustainability}\\ \end{align}

##### Show that if gH is sufficiently large, the Ramsey outcomes are sustainable in the best sustainable equilibrium.

Suppose that $$g_H > \bar{l}$$. Then government spending cannot possibly be financed by labor taxes alone, unless labor is taxed at a rate above 100%. And such a thing would make it impossible for the household's budget to be balanced. As such, being locked out of the bonds market would render the government's optimization problem impossible.

Assume that $\lim_{c\to 0+} U(c,l) = -\infty$ Then as $$g_H\to\bar{l}$$, $$c_t \to 0$$ in even periods, and so $$U^A_t \to -\infty$$ in even periods. Then because $$U^D$$ is bounded, there is some sufficiently high $$g_H$$ such that the Ramsey allocation satisfies the sustainability constraint.

Finally, note that the constraints in the Ramsey problem are looser than the constraints which define the best sustainable equilibrium's outcome. In other words, all sustainable outcomes are implementable and feasible. And the Ramsey outcomes are the best outcomes which are implementable and feasible, so if the Ramsey allocations are sustainable, they must be the best sustainable outcomes.