Author Question: Which of the following is considered contractionary fiscal policy? A) The New Jersey legislature ... (Read 69 times)

WhattoUnderstand · **on:** Jun 29, 2018

Which of the following is considered contractionary fiscal policy?

A) The New Jersey legislature cuts highway spending to balance its budget.
B) Legislation removes a college tuition deduction from federal income taxes.
C) Congress increases the income tax rate.
D) Congress increases defense spending.

Question 2

Explain how unemployment changes over the business cycle. Why do these changes occur?

What will be an ideal response?

SomethingSomething · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 29, 2018

Answer to Question 1

C

Answer to Question 2

Unemployment will fall during an expansion and rise during a recession. When the economy begins slowing down during a recession, firms cut back on production and workers get laid off. But it doesn't stop there. The unemployment rate typically rises even after the end of the recession. This happens for a couple of different reasons. First, it reflects the behavior of discouraged workers. When the economy goes into recession, the number of discouraged workers rises. When a discouraged worker drops out of the labor force, this actually lowers the unemployment rate. During the recession, the unemployment rate does not rise as much as it would if we counted discouraged workers as unemployed. When the recovery begins, these former discouraged workers enter back into the labor force and start searching for work again. This influx of people without jobs into the labor force raises the unemployment rate.
Second, firms are reluctant to start adding back workers when the recovery begins to take hold. They are cautious and want to be sure that the recession is over. They work their workers overtime rather than add new workers. Both these effects, discouraged workers re-entering the labor market and firm's reluctance to hire in the early part of a recovery, contribute to keeping the unemployment rate high.