Question 1

Fiscal policy moved toward expansion during the 1980s but toward restriction during the 1990s. How did these differences affect the economy?

Accepted Answer

A)  The expansionary fiscal policy of the 1980s led to strong growth while the restrictive policy of the 1990s led to stagnation.
B)  The expansionary fiscal policy of the 1980s led to weaker growth than the restrictive policy of the 1990s.
C)  The expansionary fiscal policy of the 1980s generated more rapid growth than the restrictive policy of the 1990s.
D)  There is little evidence that the differences in fiscal policy between the two decades exerted much impact on either aggregate demand or real output.

Question 2

Which of the following is most important for long-run growth and a healthy economy?

Accepted Answer

A)  a low rate of household savings and a high rate of consumption
B)  a high rate of both savings and consumption
C)  a high rate of government expenditures financed by borrowing
D)  high tax rates and budget surpluses

Question 3

The crowding-out effect refers to the possibility that an

Accepted Answer

A)  increase in the money supply will result in a decline in taxes.
B)  increase in consumption spending will crowd out government spending.
C)  increase in private savings will crowd out the taxable income of households.
D)  increase in government borrowing will result in higher interest rates, which will crowd out private investment and consumption.

Question 4

Measured as a share of GDP, federal spending during 2001-2010

Accepted Answer

A)  increased more rapidly than during the 1990s.
B)  increased less rapidly than during the 1990s.
C)  declined after increasing rapidly during the 1990s.
D)  was virtually unchanged during the decade.

Question 5

Which of the following best explains why high marginal tax rates retard output?

Accepted Answer

A)  High marginal tax rates reduce the incentive to earn, invest, and use resources efficiently.
B)  High marginal tax rates will encourage foreign investment.
C)  High marginal tax rates will reduce budget deficits and lower interest rates.
D)  High marginal tax rates encourage people to substitute more-desired nondeductible goods for less-desired tax-deductible goods.

Question 6

Both the crowding-out effect and new classical model indicate that

Accepted Answer

A)  expansionary fiscal policy is a highly effective weapon with which to fight an economic downturn.
B)  restrictive fiscal policy is a highly effective weapon with which to control inflation caused by excess demand.
C)  there are side effects of budget deficits that will substantially, if not entirely, offset their expansionary impact on aggregate demand.
D)  fiscal policy can be used effectively to restrain inflation but it is largely ineffective as a weapon against recession.

Question 7

Kimani sells life insurance and is considering buying a $50,000 Cadillac for business purposes (thus, the expense reduces her taxable income) . If Kimani is in the 40 percent marginal tax bracket, how much after-tax income will she have to give up in order to enjoy the Cadillac?

Accepted Answer

A)  $20,000
B)  $30,000
C)  $25,000
D)  $70,000

Question 8

If a reduction in government borrowing leads to lower real interest rates in the United States,

Accepted Answer

A)  U.S.investors will decrease their investments abroad.
B)  U.S.exports will decrease relative to imports.
C)  the inflow of loanable funds from abroad will moderate the fall in the real rate of interest.
D)  the dollar will depreciate in the foreign exchange market.

Question 9

Fiscal stimulus is most likely to direct resources into productive projects when spending decisions are left in the hands of

Accepted Answer

A)  government agencies.
B)  consumers.
C)  Congress.
D)  lobbyists and special-interest groups.

Question 10

According to the critics of Keynesian economics, the rapid increase in government spending and large budget deficits in response to the recession of 2008-2009 would

Accepted Answer

A)  slow the recovery process and result in weak long-term growth of real GDP.
B)  speed the recovery process and provide the foundation for strong long-term growth of real GDP.
C)  stimulate a more rapid recovery, but cause the economy to fall back into a recession in the near future.
D)  slow the recovery process, but provide a foundation for rapid long-term growth of real GDP.

Question 11

When government spending flows to areas where resources are already fully employed,

Accepted Answer

A)  the additional spending will stimulate strong growth in those areas.
B)  aggregate demand will place downward pressure on the general level of prices.
C)  the coordination problem accompanying the composition of aggregate demand is likely to improve.
D)  the coordination problem accompanying the composition of aggregate demand is likely to worsen.

Question 12

Historically, Keynesian economists have argued that government spending will stimulate aggregate demand more than tax cuts because

Accepted Answer

A)  government spending will stimulate aggregate demand more quickly than a tax cut.
B)  there are fewer adverse side effects to an increase in government spending.
C)  all of the spending will add to aggregate demand, but a portion of the tax cut will be saved.
D)  an increase in government spending can quickly be reversed once the economy has recovered.

Question 13

If a fiscal policy change is going to exert a stabilizing impact on the economy, it must

Accepted Answer

A)  add demand stimulus during a slowdown but restraint during an economic boom.
B)  exert an expansionary impact during all phases of the business cycle.
C)  restrain aggregate demand during all phases of the business cycle.
D)  keep the government's budget in balance.

Question 14

Advocates of the crowding-out effect maintain that the large budget deficits during the recession of 2008-2009

Accepted Answer

A)  stimulated output and employment, leading to a quicker recovery.
B)  will lead to a slower recovery than would have been the case if government borrowing had been more restrained.
C)  led to lower interest rates, stimulating private investment and consumption.
D)  will lead to lower future taxes and more private spending as the economy recovers.

Question 15

In the new classical model, a $100 billion increase in government purchases financed by borrowing will

Accepted Answer

A)  increase the real interest rate, which will crowd out private spending.
B)  lead to a $100 billion increase in real GDP.
C)  lead to a $400 billion increase in real GDP if the marginal propensity to consume is three-fourths.
D)  leave the interest rate, aggregate demand, and real output unchanged.

Question 16

Since the mid-1980s, the debt-to-income ratio of American households

Accepted Answer

A)  has remained about the same as the previous 25 years.
B)  has been slowly declining.
C)  has fluctuated between about 55 and 70 percent of after-tax income.
D)  has rapidly increased.

Question 17

Which of the following is part of the synthesis view of fiscal policy?

Accepted Answer

A)  During a severe recession, the best policy is a "balanced budget policy."
B)  During a recession, higher real interest rates and lower net exports will help direct the economy back to full employment.
C)  Since changes in discretionary policy are easy to time, fiscal policy should be altered in response to each minor disturbance.
D)  Automatic stabilizers help reduce the fluctuations in aggregate demand and output.

Question 18

Within the framework of the AD-AS model, an increase in savings by households will

Accepted Answer

A)  increase the supply of loanable funds and reduce interest rates.
B)  be offset by a decrease in savings by businesses.
C)  cause long-run fluctuations in the rate of consumption.
D)  result in a decline in aggregate demand, output, and employment.

Question 19

Use the figure below to answer the following question(s) .
Figure 12-3 1, which of the following would a new classical economist be most likely to favor? A) higher taxes and reductions in expenditures in order to shift the budget toward a surplus B) lower taxes and increase in expenditures in order to shift the budget toward a deficit C) a balanced budget D) no government action and reliance on the self-corrective mechanism" class="answers-bank-image d-inline" rel="preload" >
-Refer to Figure 12-3. If an economy is currently operating at Y1, which of the following would a new classical economist be most likely to favor?

Accepted Answer

A)  higher taxes and reductions in expenditures in order to shift the budget toward a surplus
B)  lower taxes and increase in expenditures in order to shift the budget toward a deficit
C)  a balanced budget
D)  no government action and reliance on the self-corrective mechanism

Question 20

The crowding-out effect indicates that budget deficits

Accepted Answer

A)  will stimulate aggregate demand and, therefore, exert a strong impact on output and employment.
B)  will lead to additional borrowing and higher interest rates that will reduce the level of private spending.
C)  are highly appropriate when the threat of inflation is present.
D)  are highly appropriate when the threat of recession is present.

Exam 12: Fiscal Policy, Incentives, and Secondary Effects

Fiscal stimulus is most likely to direct resources into productive projects when spending decisions are left in the hands of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Historically, Keynesian economists have argued that government spending will stimulate aggregate demand more than tax cuts because

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Within the framework of the AD-AS model, an increase in savings by households will

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Both the crowding-out effect and new classical model indicate that

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Kimani sells life insurance and is considering buying a $50,000 Cadillac for business purposes (thus, the expense reduces her taxable income) . If Kimani is in the 40 percent marginal tax bracket, how much after-tax income will she have to give up in order to enjoy the Cadillac?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In the new classical model, a $100 billion increase in government purchases financed by borrowing will

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The crowding-out effect indicates that budget deficits

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If a fiscal policy change is going to exert a stabilizing impact on the economy, it must

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Advocates of the crowding-out effect maintain that the large budget deficits during the recession of 2008-2009

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Measured as a share of GDP, federal spending during 2001-2010

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

According to the critics of Keynesian economics, the rapid increase in government spending and large budget deficits in response to the recession of 2008-2009 would

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is most important for long-run growth and a healthy economy?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Since the mid-1980s, the debt-to-income ratio of American households

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following best explains why high marginal tax rates retard output?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Fiscal policy moved toward expansion during the 1980s but toward restriction during the 1990s. How did these differences affect the economy?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Use the figure below to answer the following question(s) . Figure 12-3 -Refer to Figure 12-3. If an economy is currently operating at Y1, which of the following would a new classical economist be most likely to favor?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The crowding-out effect refers to the possibility that an

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is part of the synthesis view of fiscal policy?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

If a reduction in government borrowing leads to lower real interest rates in the United States,

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When government spending flows to areas where resources are already fully employed,

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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Use the figure below to answer the following question(s) . Figure 12-3 -Refer to Figure 12-3. If an economy is currently operating at Y₁, which of the following would a new classical economist be most likely to favor?

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