Monday, July 19, 2010

Alan Binder has trouble with Supply and Demand

He is quoted by the Levi Institute:
Let the upper-income tax cuts expire on schedule at year end. That would save the government an estimated $75 billion over the next two years. However, it would also diminish aggregate demand a bit. So, instead of using the $75 billion to reduce the deficit, spend it on unemployment benefits, food stamps and the like for two years. That would surely put more spending into the economy than the tax hike takes out, thus creating jobs.
For 30 years we have studied and reported on the effects of taxes on Congressional spending.  We have a name for the theory, the law of supply and demand.  When taxes increase, we will get less spending, you can bet me on that, say $100?  I am open to terms.

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