We assess the quantitative relevance of expectations-driven sovereign debt crises, focusing on the southern European crisis of the early 2010s and the Argentine default of 2001. The source of multiplicity is the one proposed by Calvo. Crucial for multiplicity is an output process characterized by long periods of either high growth or stagnation, which we estimate using data for these countries. Our analysis suggests that expectations-driven debt crises are quantitatively relevant but state dependent, as they occur only during periods of stagnation. Expectations and how they respond to policy are the major factors explaining default rates and credit spread differences between Spain and Argentina.
We develop a generalized theory of rationed fertility to analyze treatment effect heterogeneity in the child quantity-quality trade-off. An exogenous increase in fertility can be either desired or undesired. We derive a positive rationing income effect on child quality for desired fertility increases but a negative rationing income effect for undesired fertility increases. We propose an econometric framework to identify treatment effects of desired and undesired fertility increases and estimate a structural model to gauge the quantitative importance of the novel rationing income effect. Our study highlights the importance of distinguishing between desired and undesired changes when evaluating social programs.