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The use of government spending and taxing to achieve economic growth, full employment and stable prices. FISCAL POLICY Chapter 15. The Federal Budget
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The use of government spending and taxing to achieve economic growth, full employment and stable prices. FISCAL POLICY Chapter 15
The Federal Budget • An annual plan outlining proposed revenues and expenditures for the coming year (Oct 1-Sept 30). Currently a budget for this year has not been agreed upon. • The Presidentthrough the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)andCongresswith the help of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) work together to draw up the next year’s budget.
The Federal government may use fiscal policy to make the economy run more smoothly. • If we are in a recession the government would use expansionary fiscal policy • To expand the economy it would increase government spending and decrease taxes • If we have inflation the government would use contractionary fiscal policy • To contract the economy it would decreasegovernmentspending and increase taxes
GDP and CBO’s Estimate of Potential GDP, 2000 to 2019 GDP is expected to continue to decline into 2010 Trillions of dollars http://www.cbo.gov/
Federal Spending • Spending for 2010 was • $3.518 trillion. • Tax revenue for 2010 was • $2.105trillion. • 2010 deficit was $1.413 trillion.
Government Debt and Deficits • If government spending exceeds government revenue (taxes) within one year it is called a budget deficit • If government revenue exceeds government spending within one year it is called a budget surplus
Q. How does the government spend money it does not have? A.They could print more, which would lead to inflation or they have to borrow it. Q. How does the government borrow money? A. They sell U.S. treasury bonds, treasury bills, or treasury notes. Q. Who do they borrow it from? A. Us (individuals, banks, and governments) and foreigners.
The Federal Debtis the total of all budget deficits and budget surpluses in our history.http://www.usdebtclock.org/
Problems of a National Debt • Crowding-out effect • When government borrows it competes with businesses for savers’ dollars making it harder for businesses to borrow. A decrease in business spending reduces overall GDP.
Problems of a National Debt Interest Payments on the Debt • Interest must be paid to bondholders and over the years the interest payments have become very large. The 2011 interest payment will be $188 billion. This will be 4.9% of the budget. • An increase in interest payments means a decrease in spendingsomewhere else. There is a large opportunity cost involved here.
Problems of a National Debt Debt Held by Foreign Citizens • The majority of the interest payments go to U.S. citizens, but the number of foreign holders of U.S. debt has increased to about 44% today.