Fiscal Policy Paper
Although they are related topics, budget deficits, budget surpluses, and the national debt have varying effects on different groups of participants in the U.S. economy. To exemplify some of these effects, this paper will discuss how specific groups, individuals, the United States’ international financial reputation, and the gross domestic product (GDP) are affected by Congress’ fiscal policies and the mounting national debt. Affected groups and individuals are taxpayers, future Social Security beneficiaries, Medicare users, unemployed individuals, university students, exporters of domestically manufactured automobiles, and importers of foreign-made clothing.
Taxpayers
When running a budget surplus, Congress is less likely to fine-tune the U.S. tax structure. Because the government’s operating budget is primarily financed through bonds rather than tax revenue, Congress is more likely to focus on other non-tax related issues and tax-related debates for a future legislative session. However, if economic advisors believe the surplus indicates a gap between real output and potential output, they may advise Congress to allow additional tax exemptions as a stimulus to spending (Colander, 2010). During a budget surplus, taxpayers will either be unaffected or will receive a modest increase in income via tax exemption.
When running a budget deficit, Congress is more likely to allow previous tax exemptions to expire without renewal. According to Macroeconomics, Congress can only raise taxes so much before consumer spending declines sharply (Colander, 2010). Members of Congress realize that by reducing expenses they can fix the structural portion of the spending deficit without harming aggregate demand. During a bu...
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...ng increases cash flow to the economy. Continued deficit spending can continue to add to the national debt as it reduces the ability to save. A surplus means that the government is borrowing less than it is spending which can reduce the national debt. During this time a surplus may slow the economy to help curb inflation thus keeping the AS/AD curve stable.
Conclusion - Andrew
It’s easy for one to think of the economy in simple terms of supply and demand. There is much more to economics, however. Fiscal policy’s influence during times of deficit, debt, and surplus has a larger effect on the economy as it can impact nearly every financial aspect in the world. The government is necessary to regulate the economy to benefit the people and the economy in the long run, whether it be a student trying to attend classes or a foreign company doing business internationally.
...hey are can cause national debt. This would lead to other countries to lose faith in the dollar resulting in loss or trade and investors. The dollar will be worth less and less if nation is in high debt. People will also be affected, when you have less money you spend and buy less due to increased prices which can causes problems in the economy such as a recession or worse a depression. Budget Deficit calls for the government to let cost exceed national income and use of monetary policy to jump start the economy. The government must be careful when choosing the best way to build the economy up. If the policies fail, they can lead the nation into many problems as stated above. This is why regulating money, trade, and the economy is an important part in government tasks. In the end, citizens want the best policy to promote the U.S. into a stabile and secure economy.
Many argue that Reagan “enacted irresponsible tax giveaways for the rich…[starving] the federal government of revenue [which] led to unprecedented deficits.” There is no doubt that “today’s budget deficits [can] impoverish our descendants.”1
Introduction: In the year 1862 during the civil war congress implemented the first income tax in America. It was 3% per year. However, it was not until 1913 when the 16th Amendment to the Constitution was passed, which granted the government the ability to impose a tax on individuals’ income. Since then it has been an issue to determine how much people should be taxed. Tax rates in America change drastically; for example, in 1963 a person in the highest tax bracket would give 90.8% of their income to the government. In contrast, that same person would only pay 28.0% in 1988. The tax rate for income tax is an issue because for every dime that someone pays in taxes is one dime that they are not able to spend themselves. Additionally, people
The US has been in and out of debt countless times throughout history, going as far back as the Civil War. However, debt did not become a truly relevant problem until much later, in the 1980s (Budget Deficits). Up to that point, large budget deficits were generally only allowed during wartime, but this pattern ended after the Great Depression. Roosevelt’s New Deal meant that the government spent much more than it previously did, even after the economy improved (Budget De...
The national debt is usually a frightening topic citizens of any country, however, in the United States, twenty trillion dollars of national debt is one of the major fears of the economy. Along with this fear comes every politician claiming to be the person to lower this astronomical debt to ease concerns in the modern American economy. In Hamilton’s Blessing, John Steele Gordon tries to alleviate these concerns by showing a plethora of benefits and good the debt has been able to do throughout the history of the United States. The central premise of the book and the main guideline for John Steele Gordon’s thinking is that the debt was used to save the Union in the 1860’s, the American economy in the 1930’s, and the wellbeing of mankind during
Tax season is upon us and many Americans are scrambling around trying to get theirs finished by the end of the dead line. This time of year is not a joyous occasion, everyone on edge most of them pondering how much they will have to pay. While others are wondering if they will get as much as they thought they will, or are they going to be one of the unlucky few to be audited? I am one of those people, anxious, and waiting at the edge of my seat for that hammer of reality to come crashing down over my head. With each new election year comes new arguments and battles fought within the halls of Capital Hill, but who is right and is there a middle ground? I will present you with the facts as I have found them; the choice is yours to determine what is right and what is wrong.
U.S Federal Deficit and Debts:Understanding the history and context. (2011, November 1). Utah Foundation. Retrieved January 25, 2014, from http://www.utahfoundation.org/img/pdfs/rr7
How does the general economy affect government budgets? What is the role of government in helping the economy grow?
The reduction of government role in the economy will affect fiscal policy by decreasing deficit spending a...
In time of economic crisis the government has a choice to cut spending or increase spending for public goods and services. “In 2009, Congress passed the American Recovery and Rein- vestment Act, which authorized $787 billion in spending to promote job growth and bolster economic activity”(Stratmann/Okolski 3). John Maynard Keynes, an economist of 20th century, suggest that the government should run a deficit if it will create jobs and increase capital gain. This theory support the current stimulus package that has been introduce during President Obama’s term. Although the flaw with this concept is that it makes the assumption the government has done studies and understands which areas needs the funding the most and knows where it will be beneficial, realistically that is not true. “Federal spending is less likely to stimulate growth when it cannot accurately target the projects where it will be most productive” (Stratmann/Okolski 2). This can be seen because political figures will spend money where it directly supports their needs as well. For instance, the political figure would rather spend money to things that will yield a p...
After analyzing the data and the theory, we have provided our conclusion weather tax cut is better for the stimulation of growth or Government spending is? This report explains the big macroeconomic debates of the present times. It seeks to explore the debate within fiscal policy itself between tax cuts and government spending. We have tried to explain the argument through some theories and through some data collected from Indian econ...
Fiscal Policy involves the Government changing the levels of Taxation and Government Spending in order to influence AD (Aggregate Demand) and therefore the level of economic activity.
The government use of taxes plays a crucial role in today’s economy as well as personal finances, it has and will continue to leave its mark on the world we live in.
The appropriate role of government in the economy consists of six major functions of interventions in the markets economy. Governments provide the legal and social framework, maintain competition, provide public goods and services, national defense, income and social welfare, correct for externalities, and stabilize the economy. The government also provides polices that help support the functioning of markets and policies to correct situations when the market fails. As well as, guiding the overall pace of economic activity, attempting to maintain steady growth, high levels of employment, and price stability. By applying the fiscal policy which adjusts spending and tax rates or monetary policy which manage the money supply and control the use of credit, it can slow down or speed up the economy's rate of growth in the process, affecting the level of prices and employment to increase or decrease.
One of the ways that a government can display their power is with their ability to affect the flow of the economy. The government can manipulate interest, spending, money supply, and taxation in order to change or not change how a country operates. Due to the issue of the boom and bust cycle, the periods when a country is thriving and when they are in poor conditions, the two main ways a government can choose to run a country, keynesian and supply side