Imports and the income-expenditure model: implications for fiscal policy and recession fighting

Abstract

This paper modifies the textbook income-expenditure model to properly account for imports. This modification causes government spending to have an even larger relative impact compared to tax cuts than conventionally thought. It also shows that increased government spending can have a smaller impact on the trade deficit than tax cuts despite spending having a larger multiplier effect on income. Consequently, spending may be doubly advantaged over tax cuts as a means of reflating economic activity. Last, the paper shows that consumption tax cuts can be an antistimulus that reduces aggregate demand and output.

Keywords:

• fiscal policy
• imports
• income-expenditure model
• multiplier