Quiz Essay Questions Economics
CHAPTER 12
Fiscal Policy
A. Short-Answer, Essays, and Problems
1. Give a brief definition of fiscal policy? What are its economic goals? 2. What is the Council of Economic Advisers? 3. “The Employment Act of 1946 is no more than a vague and ill-defined commitment by the Federal government to assist in the achievement of full employment.” Do you agree? Explain. 4. Explain the effect of a discretionary cut in taxes of $40 billion on the economy when the economy’s marginal propensity to consume is .75. By how much is output likely to expand if the economy is operating in the horizontal range of its aggregate supply curve and there are no complications to this fiscal policy? How does this discretionary fiscal policy differ from a discretionary increase in government spending of $40 billion? 5. Explain the effect of a discretionary increase in government spending of $50 billion on the economy when the economy’s marginal propensity to consume is .75. By how much is output likely to expand if the economy is operating in the horizontal range of its aggregate supply curve and there are no complications to this fiscal policy? 6. Explain the aspects of expansionary and contractionary fiscal policy. During which phases of the business cycle would each be appropriate? 7. Differentiate between discretionary fiscal policy and nondiscretionary or built-in stabilization policy. 8. Describe two ways the Federal government can finance a deficit and explain which would have the more expansionary effect. 9. Describe two ways the Federal government could retire debt in the event of a budget surplus and explain which would have the most contractionary impact. 10. What is the anti-inflationary or contractionary effect of a budget surplus? 11. Explain how a small budget surplus could actually be somewhat expansionary rather than contractionary.
197
Chapter 12 New 12. Comment on the statement: “Increasing government spending is preferred to a cut in taxes when the U.S.
Fiscal Policy
A. Short-Answer, Essays, and Problems
1. Give a brief definition of fiscal policy? What are its economic goals? 2. What is the Council of Economic Advisers? 3. “The Employment Act of 1946 is no more than a vague and ill-defined commitment by the Federal government to assist in the achievement of full employment.” Do you agree? Explain. 4. Explain the effect of a discretionary cut in taxes of $40 billion on the economy when the economy’s marginal propensity to consume is .75. By how much is output likely to expand if the economy is operating in the horizontal range of its aggregate supply curve and there are no complications to this fiscal policy? How does this discretionary fiscal policy differ from a discretionary increase in government spending of $40 billion? 5. Explain the effect of a discretionary increase in government spending of $50 billion on the economy when the economy’s marginal propensity to consume is .75. By how much is output likely to expand if the economy is operating in the horizontal range of its aggregate supply curve and there are no complications to this fiscal policy? 6. Explain the aspects of expansionary and contractionary fiscal policy. During which phases of the business cycle would each be appropriate? 7. Differentiate between discretionary fiscal policy and nondiscretionary or built-in stabilization policy. 8. Describe two ways the Federal government can finance a deficit and explain which would have the more expansionary effect. 9. Describe two ways the Federal government could retire debt in the event of a budget surplus and explain which would have the most contractionary impact. 10. What is the anti-inflationary or contractionary effect of a budget surplus? 11. Explain how a small budget surplus could actually be somewhat expansionary rather than contractionary.
197
Chapter 12 New 12. Comment on the statement: “Increasing government spending is preferred to a cut in taxes when the U.S.