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Fiscal Policy Basics
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Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
The total value of all goods and services produced within a country in a specific time period. Example: Total value of all economic output in the United States in a year.
Tax Revenue
Income obtained by government through taxation. Example: Federal income taxes, sales taxes, property taxes, and tariffs.
Contractionary Fiscal Policy
A type of fiscal policy that involves increasing taxes, decreasing government expenditures, or both, to fight inflation. Example: Reducing government workforce to lower spending.
Budget Surplus
Occurs when a government's revenues exceed its expenditures during a specific time period. Example: Excess taxes from economic growth leading to more revenue than planned government spending.
Fiscal Year (FY)
A government's operating year, typically a 12-month period used for budgeting and accounting purposes. Example: In the United States, the fiscal year is October 1 to September 30.
Crowding Out Effect
Occurs when increased public sector spending leads to a reduction in private sector spending, which dampens the initial boost from government spending. Example: Government borrowing raises interest rates, which decrease private investment.
Fiscal Policy
Governmental adjustment of its spending levels and tax rates to monitor and influence a nation's economy. Example: Increasing government spending on infrastructure during a recession.
Countercyclical Fiscal Policy
Fiscal policy that acts against the cyclical tendencies of an economy, such as increasing spending or reducing taxes during a recession. Example: A stimulus package passed during economic downturns.
Budget Deficit
A financial situation where a government's expenditures exceed its revenues, resulting in a need to borrow money. Example: Government spends more on social programs than it collects in taxes in a given year.
Fiscal Stimulus
A policy intended to encourage economic growth or combat economic slowdowns via government spending and tax cuts. Example: An increase in infrastructure spending aimed at reducing unemployment.
National Debt
The total amount of money that a country's government has borrowed, typically as a result of budget deficits. Example: Sum of all past budget deficits minus budget surpluses.
Proportional Tax System
A tax system where the tax rate is fixed and does not change according to the taxable base (income, property, or sales). Example: A flat income tax rate of 10% for all income levels.
Regressive Tax System
A tax system where the tax rate decreases as the amount subject to taxation increases. Example: Sales tax that takes a larger percentage from low-income earners.
Structural Deficit
A budget deficit that exists regardless of the economy's cyclical position, caused by a fundamental imbalance in revenues and expenses. Example: Persistent deficits due to high levels of government entitlement spending.
Government Expenditure
All spending incurred by government agencies. Example: Expenses on public services, infrastructure, defense, and social welfare programs.
Discretionary Fiscal Policy
Fiscal policy measures implemented by choice of the government to stabilize the economy, rather than set by existing statutes. Example: A new infrastructure bill to spur job growth.
Debt-to-GDP Ratio
A metric that compares a country's public debt to its gross domestic product (GDP). Example: If a country's total debt is 500 billion, the debt-to-GDP ratio is 20%.
Fiscal Multiplier
The ratio of a change in national income to the change in government spending that causes it. Example: A multiplier of 2 means that for every dollar of government spending, there is a
Capital Budget
The budget allocated by the government for investment in capital assets like infrastructure, buildings, and equipment. Example: Budget for constructing new highways and bridges.
Expansionary Fiscal Policy
A form of fiscal policy that involves decreasing taxes, increasing government expenditures, or both in order to fight economic recessions. Example: A government tax rebate to stimulate consumer spending.
Automatic Stabilizers
Revenue and expenditure mechanisms in fiscal policy that automatically adjust with the economic cycle without additional government action. Example: Progressive income taxes increase revenue during booms and provide relief during downturns.
Public Debt
The amount of money a government owes to lenders outside of itself, often referred to as national debt. Example: Sum total of all government bonds issued to the public and foreign entities.
Recurrent Budget
The government budget that is used for non-investment day-to-day spending, such as salaries, maintenance, and interest payments. Example: Yearly budgeting for the operational costs of running a government department.
Progressive Tax System
A tax system in which the tax rate increases as the taxable income increases. Example: Higher income brackets pay a higher percentage in tax.
Cyclical Deficit
A type of budget deficit that occurs when an economy is operating below its potential output, typically during a recession. Example: Lower tax revenues due to high unemployment in a downturn.
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