What is the fiscal cliff in simple terms?

The fiscal cliff refers to a combination of expiring tax cuts and across-the-board government spending cuts that create a looming imbalance in the federal budget and must be corrected to avert a crisis.

What happens in a fiscal cliff?

The fiscal cliff would have increased tax rates and decreased government spending through sequestration. This would lead to an operating deficit (the amount by which government spending exceeds its revenue) that was projected to be reduced by roughly half in 2013.

What was the fiscal cliff in 2012?

The “fiscal cliff” is a term used to describe a bundle of momentous U.S. federal tax increases and spending cuts that are due to take effect at the end of 2012 and early 2013.

What is fiscal cliff Upsc?

A sudden condition of high taxes and reduced public expenditure after a long period of tax cuts and liberal public expenditure is known as Fiscal Cliff.

What is the meaning of fiscal consolidation?

Fiscal consolidation refers to the ways and means of narrowing the fiscal deficit. A government typically borrows to bridge the deficit. It will then have to allocate a part of its earnings to service the debt. … In the long run, uncontrolled fiscal deficit will hurt economic growth.

Is fiscal a deficit?

The fiscal deficit of a country is calculated as a percentage of its GDP and for the current financial year, the government expects the deficit at 6.8% of GDP. In simple terms, it is the shortfall in the government’s revenue compared to its expenditure or when the government spends beyond its income.


How can fiscal deficit be overcome?

Measures to Reduce Government Deficit

Increased emphasis on tax-based revenues and appropriate measures to reduce tax evasion. Reduction in subsidies by the government will also help reduce the deficit. Try and avoid unplanned expenditures. Borrowing from domestic sources.

What is fiscal year?

A fiscal year is a one-year period that companies and governments use for financial reporting and budgeting. A fiscal year is most commonly used for accounting purposes to prepare financial statements. Although a fiscal year can start on Jan. 1 and end on Dec. 31, not all fiscal years correspond with the calendar year.

What is deficit spending?

Deficit spending occurs when government spending exceeds its revenue. Deficit spending often refers to intentional excess spending meant to stimulate the economy.

What is fiscal drag Upsc?

What does fiscal drag refers to? Fiscal drag happens when incomes rise due to wages following prices higher pushes or drags millions of taxpayers into the higher marginal tax rate brackets. Fiscal drag has the effect of raising government tax revenue without raising tax rates. Related Links. IAS Salary.

What fiscal drag means?

Fiscal drag happens when rising incomes – perhaps due to wages following prices higher pushes or drags millions of taxpayers into the higher marginal tax rate brackets. Therefore, fiscal drag has the effect of raising government tax revenue without explicitly raising tax rates.

What is fiscal neutrality?

The idea that a tax should not distort economic behaviour. For example, income tax may influence the number of hours a worker is willing to work. This is an example of a tax that influences people’s behaviour.

What is fiscal stimulus Upsc?

A fiscal stimulus is one in which the government spends more from its own pocket or slashes tax rates. Stimuli puts more money in the hands of consumers and spending goes up – thereby encouraging demand &amp, growth.

How does fiscal consolidation affect the economy?

The global financial crisis has permanently lowered the path of GDP in all advanced economies. … Attempts to reduce debt via fiscal consolidations have very likely resulted in a higher debt to GDP ratio through their long-term negative impact on output.

What does fiscal prudence mean?

The terms “fiscal prudence” and “fiscal profligacy” are often used, somewhat loosely, to denote whether fiscal policies tend to lead to a sustainable or unsustainable fiscal position.

What is fiscal expansion?

Fiscal expansion is generally defined as an increase in economic spending owing to actions taken by the government. This expansion of spending in the economy may be intended, or may be a side effect of a government policy. Government spending is limited by its budget and available funds.

How fiscal deficit is calculated?

When the government spends more than its total income, such a situation is called a fiscal deficit. It is calculated by subtracting the total income from the total expenditure and is either expressed in absolute terms or as a percentage of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

Is fiscal deficit Good or bad?

Is fiscal deficit bad? A moderate fiscal deficit is considered good for the economy if the money is spent on infrastructure projects like highways, roads, ports and airports as these constructions boost economic growth and create job opportunities.

What is GDP surplus?

A budget surplus occurs when income exceeds expenditures. The term often refers to a government’s financial state, as individuals have “savings” rather than a “budget surplus.” A surplus is an indication that a government’s finances are being effectively managed.

Why India has high fiscal deficit?

When an economy is in a slowdown or recession, governments tend to run a higher deficit to counter the negative impact of slowdown in private demand. Higher government spending, by keeping the public investment high, has the potential to push up overall demand in the economy.

How does fiscal deficit lead to inflation?

Fiscal deficit can lead to cost-push inflation. … Higher interest rates increase production cost, which is passed on to consumers, thereby leading to higher prices. The degree of impact on inflation is dependent on the quality of expenditure.

What is deficit of GDP?

The change in debt-to-GDP is approximately “net change in debt as percentage of GDP“, for government debt, this is deficit or (surplus) as percentage of GDP. This is only approximate as GDP changes from year to year, but generally, year-on-year GDP changes are small (say, 3%), and thus this is approximately correct.

What is the 2021 fiscal year?

FY 2021 is between October 1, 2020 and September 30, 2021. FY 2020 is the budget for October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020.

What is another name for fiscal year?

In this page you can discover 5 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for fiscal year, like: accounting year, financial-year, annual accounting period, twelve-month period and calendar-year.

How is fiscal year calculated?

A company’s fiscal year always aligns with the end date of a given 12-month period. For example, a fiscal year from May 1 2020 to April 30 2021 would be FY 2021. Fiscal years also always end on the last day of the month, unless it is December (in which case it would simply be a calendar year).

Why do governments run deficits?

A deficit occurs when expenses exceed revenues, imports exceed exports, or liabilities exceed assets in a particular year. Governments and businesses sometimes run deficits deliberately, to stimulate an economy during a recession or to foster future growth.

How much is America in debt?

US National Debt Tops $30 Trillion for First Time in History.

Who pays deficit spending?

To cover this deficit, the government issues debt, typically Treasury securities. The debt generated by any given year’s deficit spending increases national debt, which is now more than $20 trillion. Like most debt, securities sold by the Treasury have interest, which the federal government pays each year.

What is fiscal consolidation Upsc?

Fiscal consolidation is a reduction in the underlying fiscal deficit. Fiscal Consolidation refers to the policies undertaken by Governments (national and sub-national levels) to reduce their deficits and accumulation of debt stock. It is not aimed at eliminating fiscal debt.

What is fiscal deficit Upsc?

What is a Fiscal Deficit? The fiscal deficit is the difference between the government’s total expenditure and its total receipts (excluding borrowing). A fiscal deficit occurs when this expenditure exceeds the revenue generated.

What is fiscal Performance Index?

The Fiscal Performance Index (FPI) is a composite index that presents the relative performance of state finance. Fiscal performance consists of composite fiscal indicators of the respective states.

What causes a fiscal drag?

Real Fiscal Drag is achieved when tax brackets are increased in line with inflation and earnings may grow faster. This means a higher percentage of earnings will be within higher tax brackets.

What is fiscal drag and fiscal boost?

Fiscal drag and boost relate to the counter-cyclical effects of progressive direct taxes and welfare benefits on the movement of GDP over time. In the case of fiscal drag, an upturn in GDP during a growth period is likely to be accompanied by a rise in real incomes.

What are some examples of 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.

Why is fiscal policy not neutral?

While both monetary and fiscal policy can have similar effects on output, only monetary policy is neutral. Since monetary policy requires an increase or decrease in the money supply, this is eventually reflected in one to one increases in the price levels. Fiscal policy does not create money.

What is compensatory fiscal policy?

The main thrust of compensatory fiscal policy thus is that the government should inject extra expenditure to reinstate demand. … In effect, the government expenditure was able to compensate for reduced private expenditure. This fiscal policy is called compensatory fiscal policy.

What are the objectives of fiscal policy?

Some of the key objectives of fiscal policy are economic stability, price stability, full employment, optimum allocation of resources, accelerating the rate of economic development, encouraging investment, and capital formation and growth.

What is fiscal and monetary stimulus?

Fiscal stimulus measures are deficit spending and lowering taxes, monetary stimulus measures are produced by central banks and may include lowering interest rates.

What are examples of fiscal stimulus?

Fiscal stimulus, on the other hand, refers to actions taken by the government. Examples of fiscal stimulus involve increasing public-sector employment, investing in new infrastructure, and providing government subsidies to industries and individuals.

Which of the following statements appropriately describes the fiscal stimulus?

The correct answer is option 2. Fiscal stimulus : It is action by the government to encourage private sector economic activity by engaging in targeted, expansionary monetary or fiscal policy based on the ideas of Keynesian economics.

What is fiscal position in economics?

Definition: The fiscal stance of a government refers to how its level of spending and taxation impact on aggregate demand and economic growth. Higher taxes and a budget surplus is seen as fiscal consolidation or deflationary stance. … A fiscal stance can be expansionary, neutral or deflationary.

What is fiscal problem?

fiscal crisis, inability of the state to bridge a deficit between its expenditures and its tax revenues. Fiscal crises are characterized by a financial, economic, and technical dimension on the one hand and a political and social dimension on the other.

How can fiscal deficit be overcome?

Measures to Reduce Government Deficit

Increased emphasis on tax-based revenues and appropriate measures to reduce tax evasion. Reduction in subsidies by the government will also help reduce the deficit. Try and avoid unplanned expenditures. Borrowing from domestic sources.

What is fiscal drag Upsc?

What does fiscal drag refers to? Fiscal drag happens when incomes rise due to wages following prices higher pushes or drags millions of taxpayers into the higher marginal tax rate brackets. Fiscal drag has the effect of raising government tax revenue without raising tax rates. Related Links. IAS Salary.