2.2.4 - Government Spending Flashcards
Budget deficit
Government spending exceeds tax revenue earned
Budget surplus
Government spending is less than tax revenue earned
Balanced budget
Government spending is equal to tax revenue
Cyclical budget deficit
Economic cycle e.g. country is in recession so government spending exceeds tax revenue
Structural budget deficit
• government spending exceeds tax revenue because the government are spending money on capital projects
Fiscal policy
How the government spends its tax revenue
Discretionary fiscal policy
Direct alteration of government expenditure or taxation
Current government spending
• maintenance of public services e.g. NHS
• payment of public sector wages e.g. wages
How can government spending affect income
• direct affects of welfare spending e.g state pension
• creates jobs both in the public and private sector
• subsidies may help to keep prices lower than they might otherwise be