question
Contractionary fiscal policy is deliberate government action to influence aggregate demand and the level of real GDP through:
answer
decreasing government spending or increasing taxes.
question
According to Keynesian economics, fiscal policy should create a deficit during economic contractions.
answer
True
question
It is inflationary for government to increase spending if:
answer
the economy is at full employment.
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A government spending and taxation policy to achieve macroeconomic goals is known as:
answer
fiscal policy.
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Income tax collections:
answer
fall during a recession, thus reducing the severity of the recession.
question
If no fiscal policy changes are implemented to fight inflation, suppose the aggregate demand curve will exceed the current aggregate demand curve by $900 billion at any level of prices. Assuming the marginal propensity to consume is 0.90, this increase in aggregate demand could be prevented by:
answer
increasing taxes by $100 billion.
question
Suppose inflation is a threat because the current aggregate demand curve will increase by $600 billion at any price level. If the marginal propensity to consume is 0.75, federal policymakers can follow Keynesian economics and restrain inflation by:
answer
increasing tax revenues by $200 billion.
question
Automatic stabilizers create ________ during recessions from increased government spending on welfare and unemployment insurance, and reduced tax revenues, and create _________ during peak growth periods of the economy from reduced government welfare spending and increased tax revenues.
answer
fiscal stimulus, fiscal contraction
question
If the economy is experiencing unemployment, then the most appropriate government policy would be to:
answer
shift the aggregate demand curve by using a tax cut coupled with more spending.
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Personal income taxes:
answer
make recessions and inflationary episodes less severe.
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The marginal propensity to consume is:
answer
the change in consumption divided by the change in income.
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A decrease in real GDP would affect the U.S. economy by:
answer
cutting tax revenues and raising government expenditures.
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Automatic stabilizers are government programs that:
answer
shift the budget toward a deficit when the economy slows but shift it toward a surplus during an expansion.
question
The balanced budget multiplier is always equal to 1.
answer
True
question
The government is pursuing an expansionary policy if it:
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increases its spending and/or reduces its tax revenues.
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A balanced budget is present when:
answer
government revenues equal government expenditures.
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If the economy was about to enter an inflationary boom, which of the following would be the most appropriate policy?
answer
A tax increase.
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Contractionary fiscal policy is designed to combat demand-pull inflation and consists of a decrease in government spending and/or an increase in taxes.
answer
True
question
Unemployment compensation payments:
answer
rise during a recession and thus reduce the severity of the recession.
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The marginal propensity to save is
answer
the change in saving divided by the change in income.
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Automatic stabilizers "lean against the prevailing wind" of the business cycle because:
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federal expenditures and tax revenues change as the level of real GDP changes.
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According to the Laffer curve, the federal tax rate affects:
answer
All of these.
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If the economy is experiencing demand-pull inflation, then the appropriate government policy would be to shift the:
answer
aggregate demand curve by using a tax increase coupled with spending cuts.
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Automatic stabilizers combine changes in discretionary fiscal policy with changes in government spending and taxes influenced by the business cycle in order to stabilize the economy.
answer
False
question
Automatic stabilizers stabilize the level of real GDP because:
answer
federal expenditures and tax revenues change as the level of real GDP changes.
question
Equal increases in government spending and taxes will:
answer
lead to an equal increase in the equilibrium level of real GDP.
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Expansionary fiscal policy consists of:
answer
increasing government spending.
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An expansionary fiscal policy may include:
answer
All of these.