GB 580 Global Government Spending and Taxes Discussion

Fiscal policy refers to the changes in government’s choices regarding the overall level of government spending and taxes to influence the behavior of the economy. Fiscal policy can expand or contract aggregate demand. The government sometimes uses the fiscal policy instruments in an attempt to stabilize the economy. Under a recession, an expansionary fiscal policy is adopted, which involves lowering taxes and/or increasing government spending. In an overheated expansion with an inflationary pressure, a contractionary fiscal policy is utilized, which requires higher taxes and/or reduced government spending. Economists and policymakers disagree about how active the government should be in these fiscal policy efforts.Based on the above summary and the detailed descriptions of the fiscal policy issues in the textbook (Chapter 31) discuss the following questions: