This paper compares welfare levels under alternative fiscal rules for small open, commodity exporter, economies whose fiscal income varies with the world commodity price (in a dynamic, stochastic, and general equilibrium setting). Between the extremes of a procyclical balanced budget policy and an acyclical spending rule, there is a continuum of rules. Thus, the best degree of spending stabilization is found. The acylical rule benefits households that do not enjoy access to capital markets by providing a financial cushion that they themselves cannot provide, boosting their mean consumption. However, households that enjoy full access to capital markets suffer under this rule, since the government reduces their role in smoothing consumption and accumulating assets.