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Research report

Bush Administration Tax Policy: Short-Term Stimulus

William G. Gale, Peter Orszag
November 1, 2004
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Abstract

This paper examines the effects of recent tax cuts as a short-term economic stimulus. The passage of the tax cuts was well-timed to offset economic downturns, but several elements of the structure of the tax cuts were poorly designed to provide short-term stimulus. For example, the tax cuts were predominantly back-loaded and did not channel funds toward groups with the highest marginal propensity to consume additional resources. Many provisions were intended to stimulate saving, not consumption. As a result, the tax cuts had at best a small "bang for the buck" relative to other options. An alternative package one containing significant state fiscal relief and tax cuts targeted at low-income households could have provided more stimulus with lower budgetary costs. The tax cuts played a relatively minor role in the economic recovery, compared to monetary policy and other factors.

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Federal Budget and Economy
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Research report

New Evidence on The Effect of The TCJA On the Housing Market

Robert McClelland, Livia Mucciolo, Safia Sayed
March 30, 2022
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