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The Daily Insight Hub

Who is responsible for contractionary fiscal policy?

Author

Isabella Turner

Updated on January 02, 2026

The government can use contractionary fiscal policy to slow economic activity by decreasing government spending, increasing tax revenue, or a combination of the two. Decreasing government spending tends to slow economic activity as the government purchases fewer goods and services from the private sector.

When would the government use expansionary and contractionary fiscal policy?

During a recession, the government may employ expansionary fiscal policy by lowering tax rates to increase aggregate demand and fuel economic growth. In the face of mounting inflation and other expansionary symptoms, a government may pursue contractionary fiscal policy.

What would be the most likely reason for the government to enact contractionary fiscal policy?

The purpose of contractionary fiscal policy is to slow growth to a healthy economic level. 1 An economy that grows more than 3% creates four negative consequences. It creates inflation.

What options does the government have regarding fiscal policy?

The government has two types of discretionary fiscal policy options—expansionary and contractionary. Each type of fiscal policy is used during different phases of the economic cycle to stop or slow recessions and booms.

What are the 5 limitations of fiscal policy?

Limits of fiscal policy include difficulty of changing spending levels, predicting the future, delayed results, political pressures, and coordinating fiscal policy.

What fiscal policy is used during a recession?

Expansionary fiscal policy is most appropriate when an economy is in recession and producing below its potential GDP. Contractionary fiscal policy decreases the level of aggregate demand, either through cuts in government spending or increases in taxes.

What is the main goal of the government’s fiscal policy?

The main goals of fiscal policy are to achieve and maintain full employment, reach a high rate of economic growth, and to keep prices and wages stable. But, fiscal policy is also used to curtail inflation, increase aggregate demand and other macroeconomic issues.

What are the dangers of fiscal policy?

The economy has fundamentally changed, and attempting to fix it leads mostly to higher inflation rates. Fiscal policy can also be a dangerous tool when used too much. In theory, fiscal policy is like national consumption smoothing: increase aggregate demand in bad times, and pay off the bill in good times.

Which of the following is a limitation of fiscal policy?

Which is an example of a fiscal policy?

The two major examples of expansionary fiscal policy are tax cuts and increased government spending. Both of these policies are intended to increase aggregate demand while contributing to deficits or drawing down of budget surpluses.

What are the four most important limitations of fiscal policy?