In: Economics
Differentiate between deficit and debt, identify some
concerns surrounding deficit and debt in popular media at the
national level. Discuss if these particular concerns are or are not
the major issues about which we should worry.
Many economists believe that deficit spending will reduce the
national income in the long run. Yet, popular fiscal policy theory
argues that deficit spending is what should be used to reduce the
impact of a recession or business slowdown in the short run. Are
these theories contradicting? Do we use different policies to
stabilize the economy in the short and long run?
If Keynesian economists recommend deficit spending as expansionary,
does it stand to reason that a surplus budget would be recessionary
or contractionary? What then is the likely outcome of paying down
the federal debt?