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Fiscal policy
In economics and political science, fiscal policy is the use of government revenue collection (taxation) and expenditure (spending) to influence the economy.[1] The two main instruments of fiscal policy are government taxation and expenditure. Changes in the level and composition of taxation and government spending can impact the following variables in the economy: Aggregate demand and the level of economic activity; The pattern of resource allocation; The distribution of income. Fiscal policy refers to the use of the government budget to influence economic activity.
Methods of funding
Governments spend money on a wide variety of things, from the military and police to services like education and healthcare, as well as transfer payments such as welfare benefits. This expenditure can be funded in a number of different ways: Taxation Seigniorage, the benefit from printing money Borrowing money from the population or from abroad Consumption of fiscal reserves Sale of fixed assets (e.g., land)
Fiscal policy
Borrowing
A fiscal deficit is often funded by issuing bonds, like treasury bills or consols and gilt-edged securities. These pay interest, either for a fixed period or indefinitely. If the interest and capital requirements are too large, a nation may default on its debts, usually to foreign creditors. Public debt or borrowing : it refers to the government borrowing from the public.
Fiscal policy Other possible problems with fiscal stimulus include the time lag between the implementation of the policy and detectable effects in the economy, and inflationary effects driven by increased demand. In theory, fiscal stimulus does not cause inflation when it uses resources that would have otherwise been idle. For instance, if a fiscal stimulus employs a worker who otherwise would have been unemployed, there is no inflationary effect; however, if the stimulus employs a worker who otherwise would have had a job, the stimulus is increasing labor demand while labor supply remains fixed, leading to wage inflation and therefore price inflation.
Fiscal Straitjacket
The concept of a fiscal straitjacket is a general economic principle that suggests strict constraints on government spending and public sector borrowing, to limit or regulate the budget deficit over a time period. The term probably originated from the definition of straitjacket: anything that severely confines, constricts, or hinders.[3] Various states in the United States have various forms of self-imposed fiscal straitjackets.
References
[1] O' Sullivan, Arthur; Steven M. Sheffrin (2003). Economics: Principles in action (http:/ / www. pearsonschool. com/ index. cfm?locator=PSZ16o& PMDbSiteId=2781& PMDbSolutionId=6724& PMDbSubSolutionId=& PMDbCategoryId=815& PMDbSubCategoryId=& PMDbSubjectAreaId=& PMDbProgramId=5657& PMDbProductId=5475). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458: Pearson Prentice Hall. pp.387. ISBN0-13-063085-3. . [2] http:/ / www. econlib. org/ library/ Enc/ FiscalPolicy. html [3] http:/ / dictionary. reference. com/ browse/ straitjacket
Bibliography
Heyne, P. T., Boettke, P. J., Prychitko, D. L. (2002): The Economic Way of Thinking (10th ed). Prentice Hall. Larch, M. and J. Nogueira Martins (2009): Fiscal Policy Making in the European Union - An Assessment of Current Practice and Challenges. Routledge.
External links
Concise Encyclopedia of Economics (http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/FiscalPolicy.html) Using Fiscal Policy (http://www.bized.co.uk/virtual/economy/policy/advisors/fiscal.htm) Limitations of Fiscal Policy (http://www.economicshelp.org/macroeconomics/fiscal-policy/ fiscal_policy_criticism.html) What Is Fiscal Policy? (http://www.investopedia.com/articles/04/051904.asp)
License
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