Theory of functional finance and the role of fiscal policy: A post-keynesian critique to the new consensus macroeconomics. This paper presents the critical approaches and elaborates the arguments that oppose those of the New Consensus Macroeconomics regarding the conduct of fiscal policy. Those criticisms and arguments are based in the post-Keynesian thought and the theory of Functional Finance. The theory of Functional Finance is an extension of the Keynesian approach, particularly with regard to discussions on public finances. As supports the theory of Functional Finance, the objectives to be pursued by fiscal policy should suggest the improvement of social welfare as a whole, i.e., the performance of inflation, employment and output should be taken into account by policymakers.

O presente trabalho resgata os principais argumentos que servem como guia e recomendações que sustentam a visão convencional de condução da política fiscal para, em seguida, confrontá-la com uma visão crítica fundamentada, principalmente, no arcabouço pós-keynesiano e na Teoria das Finanças Funcionais. Além disso, aborda, de maneira crítica, a condução da política fiscal no Brasil, no período recente, apresentando fatos estilizados acerca de seus objetivos e resultados.

The present work focuses on presenting the main arguments that support the conventional approach regarding fiscal policy conduction; subsequently, this approach is confronted to a post-keynesian critical vision based on the Theory of Functional Finance. Besides, the work critically approaches the conduction of fiscal policy in Brazil at recent time, presenting stylized facts regarding its objectives and results.