Relationship between GDP and Public Finances in Ecuador: Impact on fiscal sustainability and indebtedness
Abstract
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and public finances are essential for assessing a country’s economic health. In Ecuador, these variables have been influenced by fiscal policies and economic fluctuations, particularly due to dollarization and dependence on oil. This study evaluates the relationship between GDP and the General Government Fiscal Revenue (IFGG) in Ecuador, using quarterly data from the 2006–2023 period. Through VAR models, Johansen cointegration tests, and Granger causality analysis, a long-run equilibrium and bidirectional relationship is identified. The VAR model shows that previous quarter GDP positively influences current IFGG. However, fiscal elasticity is inelastic, indicating limited tax responsiveness to economic growth. Impulse-response and variance decomposition analyses reinforce this interdependence. The study concludes that while economic growth boosts fiscal revenue, fiscal sustainability requires structural reforms and countercyclical policies to strengthen revenue collection and control public spending
