Question

Say the marginal tax rate is 30 percent and that government expenditures do not change with output. Say also that the economy is at potential output and that the deficit is $200 billion.Required:a. What is the size of the cyclical deficit?b. What is the size of the structural deficit?c. How would your answers to a and b change if the deficit was still $200 billion but output was $200 billion below potential?d. How would your answers to a and b change if the deficit was still $200 billion but output was $100 billion above potential?

Answer 1

Answer:

a. The Cyclical deficit refers to the deficit arising from the difference between the potential output and the actual output.

The question assumes that the economy is producing at potential which means actual output equals potential output.

Cyclical Deficit = Tax rate * ( Potential Output - Actual Output)

Cyclical Deficit = 0.3 * 0

Cyclical Deficit  = $0

b. Structural deficit occurs even when the economy is at potential because it refers to Government deficits that happen when the economy is experiencing normal activity.

Structural Deficit = Actual deficit - Cyclical deficit

Structural Deficit = 200 billion - 0

Structural Deficit = $200 billion

c. Output is $200 billion below potential

Cyclical Deficit = Tax rate * ( Potential Output - Actual Output)

Cyclical Deficit = 0.3 * 200

Cyclical Deficit  = $60 billion

Structural Deficit = Actual deficit - Cyclical deficit

Structural Deficit = 200 billion - 60

Structural Deficit = $140 billion

d. Output is $100 billion above potential

Cyclical Deficit = Tax rate * ( Potential Output - Actual Output)

Cyclical Deficit = 0.3 * -100 as actual is above potential

Cyclical Deficit  = -$30 billion

Structural Deficit = Actual deficit - Cyclical deficit

Structural Deficit = 200 billion - (-30)

Structural Deficit = $230 billion