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Chapter 13. Fiscal Policy. The Multiplier Formula (cont’d). Can use this formula to find the impact on real GDP of any given change in aggregate demand: . The Government Spending Multiplier. Used to determine the change in government spending needed to close a recessionary gap:
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Chapter 13 Fiscal Policy
The Multiplier Formula (cont’d) • Can use this formula to find the impact on real GDP of any given change in aggregate demand:
The Government Spending Multiplier • Used to determine the change in government spending needed to close a recessionary gap: • Example: Suppose the government wants to close a $0.5 trillion recessionary gap: • If the MPC = 0.9, the spending multiplier is 1 / (1–.09) = 10. • Thus, the required increase in government spending is $0.5 trillion / 10 = $0.05 trillion ($50 billion).
The Tax Multiplier Process • The government could also chose to lower taxes to increase AD • Tax cuts take longer to impact the economy. • Personal tax cuts: • Must first increase disposable income • Must be perceived as permanent • Business tax cuts: • Must improve the profit outlook for businesses • It takes time for investment to take place.
The Effect of Taxes on Household Consumption • The impact of personal tax cuts is diluted because some of the additional disposable income is saved. • Multiplier effect from a change in taxes < that resulting from an equivalent change in government spending. • The multiplier must also reflect the inverse relation between taxes and changes in real GDP.
The Tax Multiplier Equation • Shows much taxes must decrease in order to eliminate a given recessionary gap:
The Tax Multiplier Equation (cont’d) • Example: Suppose the government plans to close a $0.5 trillion recessionary gap using a tax cut. Assume the MPC = 0.9. • The basic spending multiplier is 1 / (1–0.9) = 10. • The tax multiplier is 10 – 1 = 9. • The required tax cut is $0.5T / 9 = $0.055T. • Note that the required change in taxes is larger than the required change in government spending ($0.05T).
Can we do it? (number 5) • Assuming an economy with full employment real GDP of $600 billion, and an actual real GDP of $500 billion, and a MPC = 0.9, answer the following questions. • What type of gap exists in this economy? • What is the size of that gap? • To cure this gap using only changes in government spending means that government spending must (increase, decrease) by $ ___ billion • To cure this gap using only changes in taxes means that taxes must (increase, decrease) by $ ___ billion
Recessionary gap • $100 billion • Increase • Decrease
Contractionary Fiscal Policy (cont’d) • Use of decreased government spending and increased taxes to decrease both aggregate demand and real GDP.
Figure 13.2 Curing the Overheating Economy with Contractionary Fiscal Policy
Contractionary Fiscal Policy • As a result of contractionary fiscal policy: • AD decreases. • If AD decreases by the “right amount”, the economy will move to the full employment level of output. • The price level decreases. • The unemployment rate rises. • Real GDP declines
Contractionary Fiscal Policy (cont’d) • Example: Suppose the government wants to close a $0.5 trillion expansionary gap: • If the MPC = 0.9, the spending multiplier is 1 / (1 – 0.9) = 10. Thus, the required decrease in government spending is:$0.5 trillion / 10 = $0.05 trillion ($50 billion). • The tax multiplier is 10 – 1 = 9, so the required tax increase is $0.5T / 9 = $0.055T.