Deficits and Real Interest Rates: A Note Extending the Hoelscher Model

This study adopts a loanable funds model to investigate the impact of budget deficits in the U.S. on long term real interest rates. The study investigates both ex post real 10 year Treasury note yields and ex post real 20 year Treasury bond yields. The study period runs from 1955 through 1987, using quarterly data. Two stage least squares estimations reveal that budget deficits did indeed raise these ex post real long term interest rate yields