Macroeconomics

Table of Contents

1. Topic pack - Macroeconomics - introduction
2. 2.1 The level of overall economic activity (notes)
3. 2.1 The level of overall economic activity (questions)
4. Section 2.2 Aggregate demand and supply (notes)
5. Section 2.2 Aggregate demand and supply (simulations and activities)
6. 2.2 Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply (questions)
7. 2.3 Macroeconomic objectives (notes)
8. Low Unemployment
9. 2.3 Macroeconomic objectives (questions)
10. 2.4 Fiscal policy (notes)
    1. Fiscal policy - introduction
    2. The government budget
    3. Types of government expenditure
    4. A Case study: Government spending in the UK
    5. The budget outcome
    6. Fiscal policy and short-term demand management
    7. Impact of automatic stabilisers
    8. Fiscal policy and its impact on potential output
    9. Evaluation of fiscal policy
    10. The multiplier effect & fiscal policy
    11. Accelerator
    12. Crowding out
11. 2.4 Fiscal policy (questions)
12. 2.5 Monetary policy (notes)
13. 2.5 Monetary Policy (questions)
14. Section 2.6 Supply-side policies (notes)
15. 2.6 Supply-side policies (questions)
16. Print View

Syllabus: Fiscal policy and its impact on potential output

Syllabus: Evaluate the view that fiscal policy can be used to promote long-term economic growth (increases in potential output) indirectly by creating an economic environment that is favourable to private investment, and directly through government spending on physical capital goods and human capital formation, as well as provision of incentives for firms to invest.

Long Term Economic growth is depicted as a shift in LRAS to the right (ie an increase in the production potential of the economy or full employment real gdp)

   Figure 1 Increase in Production Potential (Y1 to Y2) Neoclassical



   
Figure 2 Increase in Production Potential Keynesian

Supply-side policies are policies that aim to increase the capacity of the economy to produce. However, it is also possible for fiscal policy to act on the level of supply and government will often use fiscal policy as one of their key supply-side policy tools.

Income tax may have an effect on people's incentives to work. This will be true at most income levels.

If income tax at low income levels is too high, people may choose to remain unemployed, or not to seek, employment. This is an economically rational decision, because it may be more rewarding to stay on benefits when other expenses of employment, such as transport and child-care, are factored in. This situation is often referred to as a 'poverty trap', because the unemployed cannot improve their financial position.

If income tax on high levels of income is too high, people (Entrepreneurs) may choose not to work so hard or take risks. Ultimately, they could make the choice to leave a particular country if taxes in other countries are significantly lower This 'flight' out a country to seek lower taxes elsewhere is called a 'brain drain', when the process involves large numbers of the most talented and skilled in a population.

Supply-side fiscal policies can include:

• Cutting the lower and basic rates of tax to open up the gap between the earnings in work and the benefits of those who are unemployed, to ensure people have an incentive to work

• Increasing the level of tax-free personal allowances for the same reason

• Reducing the top rate of tax to encourage enterprise, risk-taking and the incentive to work harder

• Government spending on health and education and infrastructure such as roads and railways.

The intended effects of these supply-side policies are known as 'microeconomic effects', although bear in mind that they may have macroeconomic effects as well. Whether, or not, supply-side policies work in the way they are intended, or whether they may are desirable, is considered in (Pages 56 and 57)

In a nutshell, free market economists favour using fiscal policy as a means of affecting incentives (Long Run).

While Keynesians favour using fiscal policy to directly affect economic activity through Aggregate Demand (Short Run).