Warm Up – December 3 1. What is the definition of minimum wage? Answer the following questions on a post it: 1. What is the definition of minimum wage? 2. What are arguments for increasing minimum wage? 3. What are arguments against increasing minimum wage?

Should Minimum Wage Be Raised? On a sheet of paper, write a one – page (at least) response to the question - should minimum wage be raised? You must use three pieces of evidence to support your response and must cite the video we just watched and two out of the three articles that are on my website under today’s date Your essay must include: An introduction – clearly state your thesis in your first sentence and briefly introduce your three reasons you will be going into detail on A paragraph for each reason A conclusion – begin by writing “in conclusion” and go into further detail to support your response Spelling counts

UNIT 7: The ECONOMY Fiscal Policy

What is Fiscal Policy? Reading Answer the following questions on the same post it as the warm up: 1. What is a fiscal policy? How is it different than monetary policy? 2. According to Keynesian economics, how can a government influence macroeconomic productivity? 3. What does a fiscal policy attempt to find a balance between? 4. What effects would decreasing taxes and increasing spending have? 5. Why would a government need to increase taxes and decrease spending? 6. What is one of the biggest obstacles that policymakers face?

What is Fiscal Policy? Government decisions on spending and taxation that are intended to improve or maintain the economy. The decisions the government makes has a HUGE impact on the economy.

Who makes Fiscal Policy? Congress and the President make fiscal policy through the federal budget. They decide how raise funds/what to cut. The Federal Reserve (another government agency) DOES NOT make fiscal policy. (They make monetary policy)

What is the Federal Budget? a written document that shows the money the gov’t receiving and can spend for that year

Fiscal Policy and the Economy Every Fiscal Year (a 12 month period, not necessarily from Jan. to Dec.) the government makes a new budget. The total level of government spending can be changed to help increase or decrease the output of the economy

Expansionary Policies Expansionary Policies: Policies that try to increase the output of the economy During a contraction or recession, the government can do two things: Decrease Taxes Or Increase Gov’t Spending Why would you try to decrease taxes/increase spending to grow the economy?

Decreasing Taxes/Increasing Government Spending Gives people more money to spend More money = Demand More demand = Production More production = Jobs More jobs = Demand

Who favors which policy? Decreasing Taxes Favored by Republicans Let people decide what to spend their money on and let those who earned the money benefit from it. Increase Gov’t Spending Favored by Democrats Government should spend to redistribute wealth to the poor, rather than give the rich a tax cut

Contractionary Policies Contractionary Policies: Policies that try to decrease the output of the economy During a period of excessive inflation (during a period of expansion), the government can do two things: Increase Taxes OR Decrease Spending

Increase Taxes/ Decrease Spending Less money in economy Less money = Demand Less demand = lower inflation

Who favors which policy? Neither party favors Contractionary Fiscal Policies, But at times it is necessary to increase taxes

Problem with Fiscal Policy It is unpopular to raise taxes or cut government spending. So, elected officials worried about re-election rarely do either. Ex. In 1984, Walter Mondale ran for president saying a slight tax increase would help equalize the U.S. economy. Ronald Regan defeated him in one of the biggest landslides in U.S. history! If the government cuts taxes, they have less money to spend or they go into debt. The federal debt is in the trillions of dollars, so the government has to borrow money by selling bonds. These bonds have to be paid back with interest, costing the government more money!

TOD – December 3 Answer the following questions on the same post it as the warm up: What is fiscal policy? Who makes fiscal policy? What is the federal budget? What does the federal budget authorize? What is the difference between expansionary and contractionary policies? What are the benefits of decreasing taxes and increasing spending? What are the benefits of increasing taxes and decreasing spending?