What is the operational lag in fiscal policy?

Correct answer: The time between when fiscal action is taken and when that action affects output and employment.

Explanation

The operational lag is the final delay in the fiscal policy process, representing the time it takes for a government spending project or tax change to actually work its way through the economy and affect GDP.

Other questions

Question 1

What is the definition of discretionary fiscal policy?

Question 2

In the context of the AD-AS model, what is the primary objective of an expansionary fiscal policy?

Question 3

If the government undertakes an expansionary fiscal policy with an MPC of 0.75, and its goal is to produce a $5 billion initial increase in spending, what size tax cut would be required?

Question 4

What is the primary purpose of a contractionary fiscal policy?

Question 5

What is a built-in stabilizer in an economy?

Question 6

What does the standardized budget measure?

Question 7

What is the primary reason for the recognition lag in fiscal policy?

Question 8

What is the crowding-out effect?

Question 9

What was the total public debt of the United States in 2007?

Question 10

According to the ownership data for the 2007 U.S. public debt, what percentage was held by foreigners?

Question 11

What is considered a primary substantive issue related to the public debt?

Question 12

What was the interest payment on the total public debt in 2007?

Question 13

The ratchet effect, in the context of fiscal policy, implies which of the following?

Question 14

Which of the following is an example of a public investment that could offset the crowding-out effect of public debt?

Question 15

If the government wants to reduce aggregate demand by $12 billion to fight inflation and the MPC is 0.75, by how much should it reduce government spending?

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a reason the text gives for the pro-cyclical fiscal policies of state and local governments?

Question 17

According to the text, which type of tax system provides the most built-in stability for an economy?

Question 18

What is a cyclical deficit?

Question 19

In what year did the U.S. Federal government pass the Economic Stimulus Act to counter a potential recession?

Question 20

What is the primary reason the text gives for why the large public debt does not threaten to bankrupt the Federal government?

Question 21

If the government wants to reduce aggregate demand by $12 billion to fight inflation and the MPC is 0.75, what size tax increase is needed?

Question 22

Which component of U.S. public debt is described as 'external'?

Question 23

What is the administrative lag in fiscal policy?

Question 24

What is a political business cycle?

Question 25

Why might a tax cut be less effective at stimulating aggregate demand if households believe it is only temporary?

Question 26

In 1992, the actual Federal budget deficit was 4.5 percent of GDP, while the standardized budget deficit was 2.9 percent of potential GDP. What does the difference between these two figures represent?

Question 27

What are the three main options for an expansionary fiscal policy?

Question 29

What was the total value of the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008?

Question 30

How might a large public debt impair economic incentives?

Question 31

What type of government securities are described as long-term and nonmarketable?

Question 32

What is the primary effect of an expansionary fiscal policy if the Federal budget is initially balanced?

Question 33

How do public-private complementarities potentially offset the crowding-out effect?

Question 34

During which recent period did the U.S. Federal budget experience surpluses?

Question 35

What is the economic argument against a constitutional amendment requiring the Federal government to balance its budget annually?

Question 36

In 2007, what was the public debt per capita in the United States?

Question 37

What impact does the public debt have on income distribution?

Question 38

If fiscal policy is used to correct for an inflationary GDP gap of $12 billion in an economy with an MPC of 0.75, what is the required initial decrease in aggregate spending?

Question 39

The Social Security trust fund surpluses are invested in what type of asset?

Question 40

What is the relationship between a country's tax system and its built-in stability?

Question 41

Which of these is NOT one of the main options for a contractionary fiscal policy?

Question 42

What is the primary economic argument made by those who prefer to use tax cuts to fight recessions?

Question 43

In 2007, interest payments on the public debt as a percentage of GDP were approximately what?

Question 44

If the government increases spending by $10 billion and the multiplier is 4, but the action is taken along an upward-sloping aggregate supply curve, what will happen to real GDP?

Question 45

What are public-private complementarities in the context of public debt?

Question 46

As of 2007, how was the U.S. public debt of $9.01 trillion divided between debt held by the public and debt held by Federal agencies and the Federal Reserve?

Question 47

Which of these is the main tool of the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA)?

Question 48

What does a government budget surplus represent?

Question 49

Why are transfer payments like Social Security and welfare not included in the government purchases component (G) of GDP?

Question 50

According to the text, how did the U.S. government respond fiscally to the economic slowdown and terrorist attacks of 2001?