PUEDE LA POLÍTICA FISCAL AYUDAR ALCANZAR LA CONVERGENCIA DE LA INFLACIÓN?

Dual inflation takes place when price increases in non-tradable goods are higher than those of tradable goods. In this paper, we develop a simple model where public spending has a positive externality on the production of both sectors. The main results suggested by the paper are the following: i) An increase in non-productive public spending does not generate dual inflation, as the usual Balassa- Samuelson result states ii) An increase in productive public spending rises the productivity of both sectors and this can result in dual inflation, dual deflation or no effect on prices; and, iii) Dual inflation only takes place when productive public spending has a higher effect on the technology of the tradable sector than on the non-tradable one, as illustrated in the Spanish data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]