Question

Difficulty: MediumGovernment Budgets and Budgetary Control

Match each type of government budget concept on the left with its corresponding macroeconomic implication or definition on the right.

  • Balanced BudgetTotal proposed government revenue equals total proposed government expenditure.
  • Surplus BudgetIntended to curb demand-pull inflation by withdrawing more spending power from the economy than is injected.
  • Deficit BudgetDesigned to stimulate economic growth during a recession by injecting more spending power into the economy.
  • Recurrent ExpenditureOngoing government operational expenses such as civil servant salaries and administrative maintenance.

Answer

Balanced Budget matches with total proposed revenue equaling total expenditure; Surplus Budget matches with curbing demand-pull inflation by withdrawing spending power; Deficit Budget matches with stimulating growth during a recession by injecting spending power; Recurrent Expenditure matches with ongoing government operational expenses.
Each budget type aligns strictly with its fiscal policy objective and structural definition: balanced budget balances revenues and spending, surplus reduces aggregate demand to control inflation, deficit expands demand during recessions, and recurrent expenditure represents routine operational spending.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the basic condition of a balanced budget.
Revenue equals expenditure.
By definition, neutral fiscal posture means total projected income equals total spending.
2
Analyze the fiscal objective of a surplus budget.
Withdraws liquidity from the economy to combat inflation.
When government revenue exceeds expenditure, total purchasing power in the public hands decreases.
3
Analyze the macroeconomic role of a deficit budget.
Injects liquidity into the economy to combat deflation/recession.
Expending more than revenue increases national aggregate demand.
4
Distinguish recurrent expenditure from capital expenditure.
Recurrent expenditure deals with daily running costs.
Salaries, overheads, and routine maintenance fall under recurrent spending.

Key Concept

Government Budget Types and Fiscal Objectives
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