DEMAND-SIDE POLICIES
MONETARY POLICY
FISCAL POLICY
EVALUATION (MONETARY)
EVALUATION (FISCAL)
Expansionary
Contractionary
changes in money supply and interest rates to influence AD
MACRO GOALS:
✅ higher economic growth
✅ lower unemployment
❌ inflation
MACRO GOALS:
✅ lower inflation
❌ lower economic growth
❌ higher unemployment
EXAMPLES
1970 stagflation in America
IR increased from 5% to 13% to combat the high inflation
eval: caused the pre-existing issues of unemployment and low economic growth to worsen
eval: changing interest rates might not be effective because confidence was already low- no one would want to borrow anyway
EXAMPLES
increasing IR during pandemic (USA)
The federal reserve decreased IR from 1.25% to 0.25%
eval: can lead to inflation in the long run if firms become overconfident
"Controlled expansionary measures"
higher output > high GDP > increasing economic growth > low level of unemployment (IN LR)
"Controlled contractionary measures"
lower inflation > high risk of creating unemployment and lowering econ.g > used in more desperate times
Use of government spending and taxation to influanece economic activity/AD
Expansionary
(lowering taxes or increasing govt spending)
MACRO GOALS:
✅ Increased economic growth
✅ lower unemployment
❌ Less govt revenue
❌inflation
EXAMPLES
Great recession in USA
transfer payments and capital expenditure helped protect low-income consumers
provided the nation with well needed infrastructure
Contractionary
MACRO GOALS:
✅ low inflation
✅ more business confidence
POLITICAL AGENDAS AND FISCAL POLICY
Example George Bush's promise for "no new taxes"
he was eventually pressured into accepting increased taxes to pay off national debt
destroyed his political power as he did not keep his promise
TIME LAGS AND FISCAL POLICY
Example; due to the relationship between fiscal policy and politics, it faces obstacles of legislation
it takes time for fiscal policies to be implemented as many political parties share different perspectives and may not agree
*compromises have to be made, which might affect the effectiveness of implementing such a policy
HAS A LONG-TERM EFFECT
NOT APPROPRIATE FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING ECONOMIES
the time lag does not allow it to fine-tune
NO TIME LAG, NO GOVT NEEDED
Not affected by political agendas as IR is managed by central banks
Better suited towards rapidly changing economies because it can 'fine-tune' the economy
LONG RUN NATIONAL DEBT
persistent fiscal stimulus will quickly drive up national debt