Carlos Liard-Muriente Central Connecticut State University   Department of Economics Robert Vance Academic Center, Suite 208 1615 Stanley Street New Britain, CT 01119 06050   liardcaf@ccsu.edu   http://www.econ.ccsu.edu/liardcaf/           JEL Areas: E6 : Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General F4 : Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance: General