Question

To combat a recession with discretionary fiscal policy, Congress and the president should A) decrease government spending to balance the budget. C) lower interest rates and increase investment by increasing the money supply. B) decrease taxes to increase consumer disposable income. D) raise taxes on interest and dividends, but not on personal income.

Answer 1

Answer:

B) decrease taxes to increase consumer disposable income.

Explanation:

Recession can be defined as a period of economic meltdown, in which there's a general decline in all economic activities such as trade.

Fiscal policy in economics refers to the use of government expenditures (spending) and revenues (taxation) in order to influence macroeconomic conditions such as Aggregate Demand (AD), inflation, and employment within a country. Fiscal policy is in relation to the Keynesian macroeconomic theory by John Maynard Keynes.

A fiscal policy affects combined demand through changes in government policies, spending and taxation which eventually impacts employment and standard of living plus consumer spending and investment.

Furthermore, if during a severe recession, Congress passes legislation to cut taxes, this would be an example of an expansionary fiscal policy.

According to the Keynesian theory, government spending or expenditures should be increased and taxes should be lowered when faced with a recession, in order to create employment and boost the buying power of consumers

Hence, to combat a recession with discretionary fiscal policy, Congress and the president should decrease taxes to increase consumer disposable income.