Daniel Murphy

In the U.S., municipal governments raise revenue through property taxes, based on a percentage of the value of land and all the structures built upon it. But economists have long recognized a problem: The higher the value of the structures, the higher the tax will be, which means that property owners are disincentivized from building on their land.

Why would oil producers continue to pump oil despite an excess supply globally and a shortage in storage space? Darden Professors Elena Loutskina and Daniel Murphy examine how oil prices went negative (and could again), collateralized debt and oil producers’ relationships with lenders, and broader implications for the oil market.

Fiscal policy is a powerful tool to combat economic downturns, but the results depend on decreasing inequality, an imperative to the efficacy of fiscal multipliers. As COVID-19 cases rise, new research offers insights into which fiscal policies may bolster the economy — and the other options, which may have long-term ramifications.

Increasing urbanization can prove challenging in the era of COVID-19 social distancing, particularly given the dependence on essential services and the unique health concerns of high-population density. A new study clarifies the tradeoffs between city and suburban patterns of consumption and how different areas fulfill essential daily functions.

Does fiscal stimulus raise interest rates and tighten credit markets, as theoretical models of the macroeconmy predict? New research shows what the real effect of government spending is on the U.S. economy — and what high levels of inequality have to do with the interest rate response to fiscal stimulus.

What drives household consumption? Standard theories of consumer behavior may not fully account for a major driver of spending (or not spending). Professor Dan Murphy and colleagues have a new model to help us understand consumption choices and the broader effects of policymakers’ attempts to stimulate the economy.

Though agriculture is important to Nigerian economic activity and rice is a major food staple in Nigerian households, the domestic supply does not meet demand. The Value Chain Development Program public-private partnership is designed to improve the livelihoods of economically disadvantaged farmers.

Though French President Emmanuel Macron entered office with huge popularity, his attempts at long-term economic growth through labor reform were met with plummeting approval ratings and even yellow-vest protests. What will the country do to balance social protections vs. taxes?

Resources are limited, and business and government compete for them … or so goes conventional wisdom and widespread economic theory. Does it hold up in the real world? Professor Dan Murphy’s research, presented at the IMF’s annual research conference, investigates government spending and its effect on the private sector.

Is it possible for economic growth to make some people worse off? If so, under what circumstances?