SUPPLY SIDE
ECONOMICS
Government and Aggregate Supply
 The stagflation of the 1970s led to the
realization that all economic problems could
not be solved by focusing solely on
aggregate demand.
 Supply-side economists focus their attention
on government policies such as high taxation
that impede the expansion of aggregate
supply.
Government and Aggregate Supply
 Tax policies can improve the
unemployment/inflation trade-off
 A reduction in taxes on capital gains (profit from
investment spending) and/or corporate income
will increase business profit expectations and
increase investment.
 This increase in investment means greater
capital stock which leads to increased
productivity and an outward shift of both the
SRAS and the LRAS
Government and Aggregate Supply
 A reduction in taxes on personal income leads
to higher levels of savings
 More savings leads to lower interest rates = more
investment = more capital stock = SRAS and
LRAS shift out.
 A reduction in taxes on personal income
creates an incentive to work and to work harder.
 An increase in labor force participation = SRAS
and LRAS shift out.
 An increase in productivity shifts SRAS and
LRAS outward
Government and Aggregate Supply
PL
RGDP
LRAS2
AS2
PL2 PL1
LRAS1
AS1
AD2
AD1
Q1 Q2
THE LAFFER CURVE
 The Laffer Curve relates tax rate levels to
levels of tax revenue and suggests that,
under some circumstances, cuts in tax rates
will expand the tax base (output and income)
and increase tax revenues.
0
100
l
THE LAFFER CURVE
Tax revenue (dollars)
Tax
rate
(percent)
0
100
m
l
THE LAFFER CURVE
Tax revenue (dollars)
Tax
rate
(percent)
0
100
m
n
l
THE LAFFER CURVE
Tax revenue (dollars)
Tax
rate
(percent)
0
100
m m
n
l
THE LAFFER CURVE
Tax revenue (dollars)
Tax
rate
(percent)
Maximum
Tax
Revenue
The Laffer Curve and Reaganomics
 In the 1980s, as part of President Reagan’s
move to prove that less government is better,
Arthur Laffer’s ideas were put in play.
 Taxes were cut with the expectation that tax
revenues would increase. The result was the
opposite – tax revenues fell.
 Today most economists believe that we are in
the range of Laffer curve where tax rates and
tax revenues move in the same, not opposite,
direction.

Macro Module 36 - SUPPLY SIDE ECONOMICS.ppt

  • 1.
  • 2.
    Government and AggregateSupply  The stagflation of the 1970s led to the realization that all economic problems could not be solved by focusing solely on aggregate demand.  Supply-side economists focus their attention on government policies such as high taxation that impede the expansion of aggregate supply.
  • 3.
    Government and AggregateSupply  Tax policies can improve the unemployment/inflation trade-off  A reduction in taxes on capital gains (profit from investment spending) and/or corporate income will increase business profit expectations and increase investment.  This increase in investment means greater capital stock which leads to increased productivity and an outward shift of both the SRAS and the LRAS
  • 4.
    Government and AggregateSupply  A reduction in taxes on personal income leads to higher levels of savings  More savings leads to lower interest rates = more investment = more capital stock = SRAS and LRAS shift out.  A reduction in taxes on personal income creates an incentive to work and to work harder.  An increase in labor force participation = SRAS and LRAS shift out.  An increase in productivity shifts SRAS and LRAS outward
  • 5.
    Government and AggregateSupply PL RGDP LRAS2 AS2 PL2 PL1 LRAS1 AS1 AD2 AD1 Q1 Q2
  • 6.
    THE LAFFER CURVE The Laffer Curve relates tax rate levels to levels of tax revenue and suggests that, under some circumstances, cuts in tax rates will expand the tax base (output and income) and increase tax revenues.
  • 7.
    0 100 l THE LAFFER CURVE Taxrevenue (dollars) Tax rate (percent)
  • 8.
    0 100 m l THE LAFFER CURVE Taxrevenue (dollars) Tax rate (percent)
  • 9.
    0 100 m n l THE LAFFER CURVE Taxrevenue (dollars) Tax rate (percent)
  • 10.
    0 100 m m n l THE LAFFERCURVE Tax revenue (dollars) Tax rate (percent) Maximum Tax Revenue
  • 11.
    The Laffer Curveand Reaganomics  In the 1980s, as part of President Reagan’s move to prove that less government is better, Arthur Laffer’s ideas were put in play.  Taxes were cut with the expectation that tax revenues would increase. The result was the opposite – tax revenues fell.  Today most economists believe that we are in the range of Laffer curve where tax rates and tax revenues move in the same, not opposite, direction.