Like any economic crisis, unemployment rises, aggregate income falls, and tax collections drop during the Great Recession. While unemployment rises, safety net spending rises. To stabilize the economy, the government appears to have just two options: harsh austerity (reduce spending) or more borrowing. It is difficult to defend cuts in federal government programs, especially those that provide a minimum standard of living for the poor, but increasing indebtedness hurts the economy. In a few words, analyze Costs of eliminating the budget deficit solely through (1) personal tax increases, and/or (2) through spending cut by decreasing in transfer payments (i.e., Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid) and in discretionary spending (such as defense and education budgets)

MACROECONOMICS FOR TODAY
10th Edition
ISBN:9781337613057
Author:Tucker
Publisher:Tucker
Chapter13: Federal Deficits, Surpluses, And The National Debt
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 13SQ
icon
Related questions
Question

Like any economic crisis, unemployment rises, aggregate income falls, and tax collections drop during the Great Recession. While unemployment rises, safety net spending rises. To stabilize the economy, the government appears to have just two options: harsh austerity (reduce spending) or more borrowing. It is difficult to defend cuts in federal government programs, especially those that provide a minimum standard of living for the poor, but increasing indebtedness hurts the economy. In a few words, analyze Costs of eliminating the budget deficit solely through (1) personal tax increases, and/or (2) through spending cut by decreasing in transfer payments (i.e., Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid) and in discretionary spending (such as defense and education budgets)

 

Expert Solution
steps

Step by step

Solved in 4 steps

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Inflation and Unemployment
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, economics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
  • SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
MACROECONOMICS FOR TODAY
MACROECONOMICS FOR TODAY
Economics
ISBN:
9781337613057
Author:
Tucker
Publisher:
CENGAGE L
Survey Of Economics
Survey Of Economics
Economics
ISBN:
9781337111522
Author:
Tucker, Irvin B.
Publisher:
Cengage,
Economics For Today
Economics For Today
Economics
ISBN:
9781337613040
Author:
Tucker
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Macroeconomics
Macroeconomics
Economics
ISBN:
9781337617390
Author:
Roger A. Arnold
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics (MindTap Course List)
Economics
ISBN:
9781337617383
Author:
Roger A. Arnold
Publisher:
Cengage Learning