Cyclically adjusted budget

Question

Describe the “cyclically adjusted budget,” illustrates its significance, and define why it may differ from the “actual budget.” 

Answer 1

The cyclically adjusted budget measures what the Federal surplus or deficit would be if the economy attained full-employment level of GDP along with existing tax and spending policies. If the cyclically adjusted budget is balanced, then the government is not engaging in either expansionary or contractionary policy, even if, for instance, a deficit automatically results while GDP declines. The “actual” budget is the deficit or surplus which results while revenues and expenditures take place over a year if the economy is not operating at full-employment.