Chapter 16: Problem 31

What is the difference between discretionary fiscal policy and automatic stabilizers?

Short Answer

Expert verified

The main difference between discretionary fiscal policy and automatic stabilizers is that discretionary fiscal policy requires active government intervention and decision-making to manage the economy, whereas automatic stabilizers take effect naturally based on the current state of the economy and work passively to reduce the impact of economic fluctuations. Examples of discretionary fiscal policy include tax cuts and government spending, while automatic stabilizers include unemployment benefits and progressive taxation systems.

Step by step solution

Definition: Discretionary Fiscal Policy

Discretionary fiscal policy refers to intentional changes in government spending and taxation policies to affect the overall economy. This type of fiscal policy is decided by the government and usually implemented during economic downturns or booms. Examples of discretionary fiscal policies include increasing government spending during a recession to stimulate economic growth, or decreasing taxes to encourage consumer spending.

Definition: Automatic Stabilizers

Automatic stabilizers are economic policies that automatically take effect when the economy experiences fluctuations, without the need for government intervention or decision-making. They help to stabilize the economy by smoothing out the business cycle. Examples of automatic stabilizers include unemployment benefits (which increase during economic downturns when more people are unemployed) and progressive taxation system (where people with higher incomes face higher tax rates), which help to redistribute income during periods of economic growth or decline.

Comparison of Discretionary Fiscal Policy and Automatic Stabilizers

The main difference between discretionary fiscal policy and automatic stabilizers is that discretionary fiscal policy requires government intervention and decision-making, whereas automatic stabilizers take effect naturally based on the current state of the economy. Discretionary fiscal policy is used to actively manage the economy, while automatic stabilizers work passively to reduce the impact of economic fluctuations.

Examples

A few examples can help to clarify the differences between the two concepts: 1. Discretionary Fiscal Policy: During a recession, the government decides to implement a tax cut to encourage people to spend more, thereby boosting the economy. 2. Automatic Stabilizer: During the same recession, unemployment benefits are automatically increased as more people lose their jobs, providing them with temporary financial support and helping to maintain consumer spending. In summary, discretionary fiscal policy involves active decision-making and intervention by the government to manage the economy, whereas automatic stabilizers are passive mechanisms that help to mitigate the effects of economic fluctuations.

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