Abstract: Is there a role for government in the economy? Yes, says Heritage analyst Karen Campbell--but the government must focus on maintaining economic stability. Fiscal responsibility is an important part of that stability. Government debt can quickly become a burden on the economy and weaken its foundations. Sound macroeconomic policies enhance the credibility of the government and strengthen the political institutions. This credibility is vital for economic stability and Americans' long-term investment decisions that allow the U.S. economy to flourish.
In order to restore economic stability, policymakers must focus on restoring the institutional role of governing. Government can provide a stable environment for economic growth when it can be depended upon to maintain the stability of the currency, enforce and defend property rights, and provide oversight that assures private citizens that their transaction partners in the marketplace are held accountable.[1] This will allow market participants to begin putting their resources back to work in the areas where they are most beneficial.[2]
After decades of lecturing developing countries on how to emerge from economic crisis and stimulate economic growth through sound government policies, U.S. policymakers and some economists are throwing out all their advice during the first major crisis test. This is particularly true when it comes to advice on accumulating more and more debt.
President Barack Obama's fiscal responsibility summit[3] last February indicated that he understands the urgent need for fiscal discipline. But Congress's recent enactment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the President's proposed budget makes the goals of a sustainable budget and addressing the nation's longer-term fiscal priorities, such as entitlement liabilities, even more elusive. The Congressional Budget Office's recent "Budget and Economic Outlook" estimated the 2009 budget deficit to be $1.6 trillion.[4] The Administration's recently released mid-session review from the Office of Management and Budget estimates that over the next 10 years the accumulated deficits will total $9 trillion.[5] This means that the debt held by the public will be a staggering 77 percent of GDP in 2019. If the debt level continues to grow faster than the economy, the U.S. will find that it owes more than it makes.
Government spending and government deficits automatically increase during economic downturns due to more demands on social-safety-net provisions and falling tax revenues. Such spending can have a stabilizing effect on the economy because it happens automatically rather than through legislative acts, and the money is spent at times it is needed most. Borrowing and spending to stimulate the economy using legislative discretion is much more difficult to time for the right moment, and is thus much riskier. The funds are often not spent until long after the downturn has taken place, and can prolong the downturn by crowding out productive investment and spending that would have otherwise occurred.[6]
Economic downturns, while painful, do afford an opportunity to root out waste and inefficient spending both in the public and private sectors. This is because the opportunity cost of making fundamental reforms is lower during downturns.[7] This opportunity to reassess processes and undertake reforms that make better use of resources should not be wasted.
Deficits Matter
As with all of economic life, there are trade-offs. Government deficits have both positive and negative effects. Debt is a powerful tool that can magnify gains, but its leveraging power is dangerous because it also magnifies losses. Debt should be used to finance income-producing assets that will be used to pay back the debt. Using debt financing to pay for consumption or unproductive assets can lead to a sinkhole as the outflow of interest and principle payments becomes larger than the inflow of income. In the case of small budget deficits, the positive effects most likely outweigh the negative effects, for example, of increased risk and interest rates. As the deficit grows, the negative effects of adding to the nation's debt start to overwhelm any positive effects.
Large deficits can contribute to price instability. If the government finances the deficit by printing money, it can lead to inflation through depreciation of the currency, which makes foreign goods more expensive. This puts increasing pressure on the domestic price level by raising the price of imports. If the government issues debt, competition with businesses and other individuals for investment dollars results, increasing the cost of borrowing to finance productive investments in the private sector.
A weak fiscal position can weaken government's ability to provide security for property rights. Being overleveraged makes it that much more difficult to borrow in the face of a security crisis or other unforeseen catastrophe. The government can also lose its role as a credible governing body (overseer) of markets when it becomes an active participant in the markets.[8] Careful arms-length oversight will also promote clarity, so that reliable information about goods and services is available to those buying and selling in the market, allowing good price signals to come out of the market system. This minimizes distortions and enables people to make the best possible decisions about how to spend their budgets.
The Global Economy: Makes Sound Institutions More Critical
In economies that compete globally, the government's creditability is even more crucial. This creditability is dependent on the fiscal responsibility of the government.[9] The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has long advocated fiscal restraint to establish credit for emerging economies. The established credit of the U.S. is largely due to the strength of its financial institutions. The U.S. should not abuse its greater fiscal flexibility in terms of its debt, but instead should work to maintain the credit of the U.S. government.[10]
Preserving the credibility of the United States abroad is not only a diplomatic exercise. Large fiscal deficits in developed economies not only crowd out investment in the private sector, they compete with the debt issued by emerging economies. When many developed economies issue debt simultaneously, the cost and availability of funding for developing economies increases and limits the ability of developing countries to raise much-needed external funding as they work toward economic development.[11] Sound fiscal policy and a credible commitment to deficit reduction will help keep the United States a world leader and good citizen of the global economy.[12]
The Danger of the "Kitchen Sink" Approach
Many believe there is a danger of doing too little. In fact, the danger probably lies in trying to do too many different things in the hope that one of them will restore economic growth. By doing too much there is a greater chance that policy effects will offset one another (for example, providing a tax cut on investments that gives people an incentive to invest, while increasing government investment that raises the cost of investing).
The investment ambitions, while admirable, can be achieved in a decentralized way if the government once again focuses on its supportive role of providing a solid economic foundation. Given a stable foundation, private individuals can invest and produce the vibrant standard of living that meet the changing needs and wants of society.[13]
Institutional Management
Government institutions must be managed well to guard their credibility in providing a just system of laws and enforcement. This can be starkly evident in less-developed countries but is no less true for developed countries.
For a developed economy, well-run government institutions are no less important. Effective government institutions ensure that those employed in the public sector are doing their jobs effectively, with the goal of supporting the private sector, not competing against it. Rather than borrowing more money and creating new programs and layers of bureaucracy,[14] this Administration and Congress should:
Focus on the election campaign promise of streamlining agencies;
Exercise restraint in rushed deficit spending projects with no risk-return evaluation;
Focus on financial regulatory reform;
Reform the tax code; and
Signal a commitment to trade rather than protectionism.
The first two points demonstrate a commitment to fiscal responsibility and give an opportunity to review the purposes of agencies in light of current needs and changing technology. This will help to increase the level of accountability in both the private and public sectors, as evaluations shine the light on how operations have been conducted. Demonstrating fiscal responsibility also signals a commitment to supporting the U.S. currency,[15] which will reassure America's trading partners.
The third point will help restore credibility to U.S. financial institutions. It is well past time to modernize this country's financial regulatory system so that it can meet the challenges of today rather than reflect the structure of a market that no longer exists. The new system should be flexible and encourage the kind of innovation that has helped to provide low-cost financial services to millions of consumers, while also providing the credit that is so necessary for economic growth. It is important that the recent stabilization in the financial sector and other legislative agendas do not change the priority of this reform effort.
The fourth, reform of the tax code, should focus on simplification, transparency of the tax burden, broadening the base, and lowering overall rates. Reducing the layers and complexity of the tax code frees up resources that citizens can put to more productive use. The Tax Foundation estimated that in 2005, individuals and non-profits spent six billion hours complying with the federal tax
บทคัดย่อ: มีบทบาทในรัฐบาลเศรษฐกิจ ใช่ กล่าวว่า นักวิเคราะห์มรดก Campbell กะเหรี่ยง - แต่รัฐบาลต้องเน้นการรักษาเสถียรภาพทางเศรษฐกิจ ความรับผิดชอบทางการเงินเป็นส่วนสำคัญของความมั่นคงนั้น หนี้รัฐบาลสามารถเป็น ภาระเศรษฐกิจอย่างรวดเร็ว และรากฐานของการอ่อนตัวลง นโยบายเศรษฐกิจมหภาคเสียงเพิ่มความน่าเชื่อถือของรัฐบาล และเสริมสร้างสถาบันทางการเมือง ความน่าเชื่อถือนี้มีความสำคัญสำหรับความมั่นคงทางเศรษฐกิจของชาวอเมริกันระยะยาวลงทุนตัดสินใจที่ทำให้เศรษฐกิจสหรัฐรุ่งเรืองเพื่อคืนเสถียรภาพทางเศรษฐกิจ ผู้กำหนดนโยบายต้องเน้นบทบาทสถาบันควบคุมการคืนค่า รัฐบาลสามารถให้สภาพแวดล้อมที่มั่นคงสำหรับการเจริญเติบโตทางเศรษฐกิจเมื่อมันสามารถพร้อมที่จะรักษาเสถียรภาพของสกุลเงิน บังคับใช้ และปกป้องทรัพย์สิน และให้กำกับดูแลที่มั่นใจว่าประชาชนที่ธุรกรรมของคู่ค้าในตลาดจัดขึ้นรับผิดชอบ [1] นี้จะช่วยให้ผู้เข้าร่วมตลาดเริ่มย้ายทรัพยากรของพวกเขากลับไปทำงานในพื้นที่ซึ่งจะเป็นประโยชน์มากที่สุด [2]หลังจากทศวรรษของประเทศกำลังพัฒนาในการออกจากวิกฤตเศรษฐกิจ และกระตุ้นเศรษฐกิจผ่านนโยบายรัฐบาลเสียงปาฐกถา ผู้กำหนดนโยบายของสหรัฐอเมริกาและนักเศรษฐศาสตร์บางคนมีการขว้างปาออกคำแนะนำของพวกเขาในระหว่างการทดสอบภาวะวิกฤตที่สำคัญแรก นี้เป็นจริงโดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งเมื่อมันมาถึงคำแนะนำในการกู้มาก ขึ้นสุดยอดความรับผิดชอบทางการเงินของประธานาธิบดี Barack Obama [3] กุมภาพันธ์ล่าสุดระบุว่า เขาเข้าใจวินัยทางการเงินต้องเร่งด่วน แต่ของสภาออกล่าสุดของการกู้ คืนอเมริกัน และพระราช บัญญัติแต่ละคาบเวลา และงบประมาณเสนอประธานทำให้เป้าหมายของงบประมาณที่ยั่งยืนและการแก้ปัญหาของประเทศเยือนเงินสำคัญ เช่นหนี้สินสิทธิ เปรียวมากยิ่งขึ้น การตั้งงบประมาณสำนักล่าสุด "งบประมาณและภาวะเศรษฐกิจ" ประมาณการขาดดุลงบประมาณ 2009 จะ $1.6 ล้านล้าน [4] การจัดการเพิ่งออกกลางเซสชันการตรวจทานจากสำนักงานจัดการ และงบประมาณประเมินว่า ต่อไป 10 ปี ขาดดุลสะสมจะรวม $9 ล้านล้าน [5] ซึ่งหมายความ ว่า หนี้ที่ถือครอง โดยประชาชนจะส่าย 77 เปอร์เซ็นต์ของ GDP ใน 2019 ถ้าระดับหนี้ยังคงเติบโตได้เร็วกว่าเศรษฐกิจ สหรัฐอเมริกาจะพบว่า มันค้างชำระมากกว่าทำให้Government spending and government deficits automatically increase during economic downturns due to more demands on social-safety-net provisions and falling tax revenues. Such spending can have a stabilizing effect on the economy because it happens automatically rather than through legislative acts, and the money is spent at times it is needed most. Borrowing and spending to stimulate the economy using legislative discretion is much more difficult to time for the right moment, and is thus much riskier. The funds are often not spent until long after the downturn has taken place, and can prolong the downturn by crowding out productive investment and spending that would have otherwise occurred.[6]Economic downturns, while painful, do afford an opportunity to root out waste and inefficient spending both in the public and private sectors. This is because the opportunity cost of making fundamental reforms is lower during downturns.[7] This opportunity to reassess processes and undertake reforms that make better use of resources should not be wasted.Deficits MatterAs with all of economic life, there are trade-offs. Government deficits have both positive and negative effects. Debt is a powerful tool that can magnify gains, but its leveraging power is dangerous because it also magnifies losses. Debt should be used to finance income-producing assets that will be used to pay back the debt. Using debt financing to pay for consumption or unproductive assets can lead to a sinkhole as the outflow of interest and principle payments becomes larger than the inflow of income. In the case of small budget deficits, the positive effects most likely outweigh the negative effects, for example, of increased risk and interest rates. As the deficit grows, the negative effects of adding to the nation's debt start to overwhelm any positive effects.Large deficits can contribute to price instability. If the government finances the deficit by printing money, it can lead to inflation through depreciation of the currency, which makes foreign goods more expensive. This puts increasing pressure on the domestic price level by raising the price of imports. If the government issues debt, competition with businesses and other individuals for investment dollars results, increasing the cost of borrowing to finance productive investments in the private sector.A weak fiscal position can weaken government's ability to provide security for property rights. Being overleveraged makes it that much more difficult to borrow in the face of a security crisis or other unforeseen catastrophe. The government can also lose its role as a credible governing body (overseer) of markets when it becomes an active participant in the markets.[8] Careful arms-length oversight will also promote clarity, so that reliable information about goods and services is available to those buying and selling in the market, allowing good price signals to come out of the market system. This minimizes distortions and enables people to make the best possible decisions about how to spend their budgets.The Global Economy: Makes Sound Institutions More CriticalIn economies that compete globally, the government's creditability is even more crucial. This creditability is dependent on the fiscal responsibility of the government.[9] The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has long advocated fiscal restraint to establish credit for emerging economies. The established credit of the U.S. is largely due to the strength of its financial institutions. The U.S. should not abuse its greater fiscal flexibility in terms of its debt, but instead should work to maintain the credit of the U.S. government.[10]Preserving the credibility of the United States abroad is not only a diplomatic exercise. Large fiscal deficits in developed economies not only crowd out investment in the private sector, they compete with the debt issued by emerging economies. When many developed economies issue debt simultaneously, the cost and availability of funding for developing economies increases and limits the ability of developing countries to raise much-needed external funding as they work toward economic development.[11] Sound fiscal policy and a credible commitment to deficit reduction will help keep the United States a world leader and good citizen of the global economy.[12]The Danger of the "Kitchen Sink" ApproachMany believe there is a danger of doing too little. In fact, the danger probably lies in trying to do too many different things in the hope that one of them will restore economic growth. By doing too much there is a greater chance that policy effects will offset one another (for example, providing a tax cut on investments that gives people an incentive to invest, while increasing government investment that raises the cost of investing).The investment ambitions, while admirable, can be achieved in a decentralized way if the government once again focuses on its supportive role of providing a solid economic foundation. Given a stable foundation, private individuals can invest and produce the vibrant standard of living that meet the changing needs and wants of society.[13]Institutional ManagementGovernment institutions must be managed well to guard their credibility in providing a just system of laws and enforcement. This can be starkly evident in less-developed countries but is no less true for developed countries.For a developed economy, well-run government institutions are no less important. Effective government institutions ensure that those employed in the public sector are doing their jobs effectively, with the goal of supporting the private sector, not competing against it. Rather than borrowing more money and creating new programs and layers of bureaucracy,[14] this Administration and Congress should:Focus on the election campaign promise of streamlining agencies;Exercise restraint in rushed deficit spending projects with no risk-return evaluation;Focus on financial regulatory reform;Reform the tax code; andSignal a commitment to trade rather than protectionism.The first two points demonstrate a commitment to fiscal responsibility and give an opportunity to review the purposes of agencies in light of current needs and changing technology. This will help to increase the level of accountability in both the private and public sectors, as evaluations shine the light on how operations have been conducted. Demonstrating fiscal responsibility also signals a commitment to supporting the U.S. currency,[15] which will reassure America's trading partners.The third point will help restore credibility to U.S. financial institutions. It is well past time to modernize this country's financial regulatory system so that it can meet the challenges of today rather than reflect the structure of a market that no longer exists. The new system should be flexible and encourage the kind of innovation that has helped to provide low-cost financial services to millions of consumers, while also providing the credit that is so necessary for economic growth. It is important that the recent stabilization in the financial sector and other legislative agendas do not change the priority of this reform effort.
The fourth, reform of the tax code, should focus on simplification, transparency of the tax burden, broadening the base, and lowering overall rates. Reducing the layers and complexity of the tax code frees up resources that citizens can put to more productive use. The Tax Foundation estimated that in 2005, individuals and non-profits spent six billion hours complying with the federal tax
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