Chapter 5 - Public expenditure Flashcards
Definition of Public expenditure
Funds and rescources allocated by the government to social goods and services
Role of public expenditure
Stimulate economic growth
Satisfy needs
Capital expenditure
Investment in goods and assets
- Infrastructure
- Equipment
- Streetlight
Current expenditure
Final consumption in spending on goods and services consumed in a short period of time and transfer payments and debt interests
- Wages
- Heating
- Lighting
Transfer payments
Payments made to individuals by the government that doesn’t give output
- Unemployment
- State pensions
How is government spending measured
As a percentage of GDP
Debt interest
The interest that needs to be paid for previous borrowing accumulated in the past
Reasons for changing size and pattern of public expenditure
Changing incomes - VAT is regressive and promotes inequality
Changing GDP - recession leads to an increase in public expenditure
- Expansionary fiscal policy
- Increase welfare benefits
Changing age
Changing expectations - increase the income of a country leads to increase in demand of better quality products
Significance of changing public expenditure as a proportion of GDP
Tax - if government expenditure is a high proportion of GDP, it is only sustainable if tax revenues are also a high proportion of GDP
Productivity and growth
- Free market: private is better than public - cutting government expenditure can lead to a rise in productivity + growth
- Planned: government can be efficient
Crowding out
As government spending rises, private spending falls, so IR rise and borrowing decreases.
Why do we tax?
Government revenue for expenditure
Correct market failure
Manage the economy
Redistribute income
Direct taxes
Taken from the income of individuals
- Income: on earnings (usually progressive)
- Corporation: on business profits
- Wealth: on value of properties
- Capital gains: on profits from sales
Indirect taxes
Taken from goods and services spent
- VAT: on business (usually passed on to consumers)
- Tariffs: on imports
. Excise duty: on quantity buyed
Proportional
Same tax for all
Encourages people to earn more as tax doesn’t change
- Also known as flat tax
Progressive
As income increases, tax rises - direct taxes usually
- Should help reduce inequality
Regressive
As income rises, tax falls - indirect taxes usually
- Less equitable distribution of income
Tax avoidance
Reporting deductions in income, to pay less/no tax
Tax evasion
Breaking the law to avoid paying tax - hiding money