The standardized surplus provides a good way to measure these discretionary changes by correcting the actual budget surplus for changes due to the effects of automatic stabilizers. Figure 1 shows the standardized surplus based on the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) April 2002 projections. It illustrates the swing in discretionary fiscal policy since 2000, with the standardized surplus falling from 1.3% of GDP in 2000 to a projected deficit of 0.8% of GDP for 2002. Legislated fiscal actions taken since January 2001 reduced the standardized surplus by 0.5% of GDP in 2001 and will reduce it by a projected 1.2% of GDP in 2002.
The problem of lags
The chief argument against using discretionary fis- cal policy to combat recessions emphasizes the long lags involved in changing fiscal policy in the U.S.. The recent U.S. experience illustrates this problem. Evidence appeared in late 2000 that the economy was slowing. Congress did pass a tax cut in 2001, but this was part of President Bush’s legislative agenda before any hint of an economic slowdown. It took Congress until March 2002 to pass the Economic Recovery Act to provide further stimulus to the economy. In contrast, when signs emerged in December 2000 that the economy had slowed, the monetary policymaking committee of the Federal Reserve was able to convene a quick tele- phone meeting and to start cutting interest rates in January 2001.
Most postwar recessions in the U.S. have been short, lasting on average just under 11 months. By the time a fiscal program is starting to boost business and consumer demand—that is, after policymakers recognize that economic growth has slowed, pro- pose a fiscal package, debate it, pass it, and send it to the President for his signature—the economy is already likely to be recovering. For this reason, discretionary fiscal policy in the U.S. is generally viewed as too unwieldy for dealing with the typical, mild recessions experienced in recent decades.
Figure 2 shows the contribution of automatic stabi- lizers and discretionary fiscal changes to the total change in the fiscal surplus (figures for 2002 are based on the April CBO projections).A positive value means that the surplus has increased (the deficit has shrunk) and therefore represents a con- tractionary shift in the budget; a negative value represents a more expansionary policy. During the recessions in 1970, 1974–1975, and 1990–1991, almost the entire shift to a larger deficit was the result of automatic stabilizers at work. In contrast, in the current recession both automatic and discre- tionary fiscal policy changes have worked to reduce the surplus. Notice, however, that the automatic stabilizers began to work in 1999, while the major shift in discretionary fiscal policy did not occur until later, when the economy had already entered a recession.
The role of future fiscal policy
Expectations of future fiscal actions, and not just current expenditures and taxes, also can affect the economy.The distinction between current changes in spending or taxes and expected future changes is important because households and firms consider future economic conditions, as well as current con- ditions, in making their spending decisions. The impact of a change in fiscal policy today will depend on how it affects individuals’ expectations about future government spending and taxes.
A tax cut, for example, leaves more disposable income in the hands of households. If the tax cut is viewed as temporary, though, it may have a much smaller effect on household spending than a per- manent tax cut would. In contrast, some tempo- rary tax changes can have larger effects on spending than permanent changes. For example, an invest- ment tax credit that temporarily lowers the cost of investment projects can lead firms to schedule their spending to take advantage of the tax credit. Both current and future fiscal actions must be con- sidered in assessing the impact of fiscal policy on the economy.
Can fiscal expansions be contractionary?
When expectations of future fiscal policy are important,“expansionary” fiscal policy—an increase in government spending, for example—may actu- ally be contractionary. For example, if a government is already running a large deficit, spending increases might lead financial markets to question the sol- vency of the government or to expect that taxes will need to be raised in the future.This can cause
The standardized surplus provides a good way to measure these discretionary changes by correcting the actual budget surplus for changes due to the effects of automatic stabilizers. Figure 1 shows the standardized surplus based on the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) April 2002 projections. It illustrates the swing in discretionary fiscal policy since 2000, with the standardized surplus falling from 1.3% of GDP in 2000 to a projected deficit of 0.8% of GDP for 2002. Legislated fiscal actions taken since January 2001 reduced the standardized surplus by 0.5% of GDP in 2001 and will reduce it by a projected 1.2% of GDP in 2002.The problem of lagsThe chief argument against using discretionary fis- cal policy to combat recessions emphasizes the long lags involved in changing fiscal policy in the U.S.. The recent U.S. experience illustrates this problem. Evidence appeared in late 2000 that the economy was slowing. Congress did pass a tax cut in 2001, but this was part of President Bush’s legislative agenda before any hint of an economic slowdown. It took Congress until March 2002 to pass the Economic Recovery Act to provide further stimulus to the economy. In contrast, when signs emerged in December 2000 that the economy had slowed, the monetary policymaking committee of the Federal Reserve was able to convene a quick tele- phone meeting and to start cutting interest rates in January 2001.Most postwar recessions in the U.S. have been short, lasting on average just under 11 months. By the time a fiscal program is starting to boost business and consumer demand—that is, after policymakers recognize that economic growth has slowed, pro- pose a fiscal package, debate it, pass it, and send it to the President for his signature—the economy is already likely to be recovering. For this reason, discretionary fiscal policy in the U.S. is generally viewed as too unwieldy for dealing with the typical, mild recessions experienced in recent decades.Figure 2 shows the contribution of automatic stabi- lizers and discretionary fiscal changes to the total change in the fiscal surplus (figures for 2002 are based on the April CBO projections).A positive value means that the surplus has increased (the deficit has shrunk) and therefore represents a con- tractionary shift in the budget; a negative value represents a more expansionary policy. During the recessions in 1970, 1974–1975, and 1990–1991, almost the entire shift to a larger deficit was the result of automatic stabilizers at work. In contrast, in the current recession both automatic and discre- tionary fiscal policy changes have worked to reduce the surplus. Notice, however, that the automatic stabilizers began to work in 1999, while the major shift in discretionary fiscal policy did not occur until later, when the economy had already entered a recession.บทบาทของนโยบายการคลังในอนาคตความคาดหวังของการดำเนิน การทางการเงินในอนาคต และปัจจุบันเพียงค่าใช้จ่าย และ ภาษี นอกจากนี้ยังมีผลต่อเศรษฐกิจ ความแตกต่างระหว่างการเปลี่ยนแปลงปัจจุบันใช้จ่าย หรือภาษีและเปลี่ยนแปลงในอนาคตเป็นสิ่งสำคัญเนื่องจากครัวเรือนและบริษัทพิจารณาภาวะเศรษฐกิจในอนาคต เป็นปัจจุบันคอน-ditions ในการตัดสินใจใช้จ่ายของพวกเขา ผลกระทบของการเปลี่ยนแปลงในนโยบายทางการเงินวันนี้จะขึ้นอยู่กับว่ามันมีผลต่อความคาดหวังของบุคคลเกี่ยวกับภาษีและการใช้จ่ายของรัฐบาลในอนาคตภาษีตัด เช่น ใบเพิ่มเติมรายได้ในมือของครัวเรือน ถ้าดูการตัดภาษีเป็นการชั่วคราว แม้ว่า มันอาจมีผลเล็กมากในการใช้จ่ายครัวเรือนกว่าการต่อ-ตัด manent ภาษีจะได้ ตรงกันข้าม การเปลี่ยนแปลงภาษีบางจังหวะ-rary สามารถมีผลกระทบขนาดใหญ่ใช้จ่ายมากกว่าการเปลี่ยนแปลงอย่างถาวร เช่น การเครดิตภาษีของ ment ลงทุนชั่วคราวลดต้นทุนของโครงการลงทุนสามารถนำบริษัทการจัดกำหนดการการใช้ประโยชน์จากการเครดิตภาษี การดำเนินการทางการเงินทั้งในปัจจุบัน และในอนาคตต้องปรับ sidered ในการประเมินผลกระทบของนโยบายการคลังเศรษฐกิจเงินขยายสามารถ contractionaryWhen expectations of future fiscal policy are important,“expansionary” fiscal policy—an increase in government spending, for example—may actu- ally be contractionary. For example, if a government is already running a large deficit, spending increases might lead financial markets to question the sol- vency of the government or to expect that taxes will need to be raised in the future.This can cause
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