The public deficit is the difference between government revenues and expenditures over a period of time. Reducing it is a goal of most governments, achieved by increasing revenues and reducing expenditures. It is distinct from public debt, which refers to all money and services owed by the government to internal and external organizations. Deficit spending is common, but can increase the total public debt over time. The need for deficit spending is compounded by the public’s conflicting desires to keep taxes low and services high.
The public deficit, also known as the government deficit, is the difference between revenues and expenditures over a given period of time. The public deficit is the opposite of the public surplus, which occurs when a government receives more money in revenue than it spends. Measuring the public deficit is one way to get an idea of a country’s fiscal health, although many other factors can contribute to this analysis. Reducing the public deficit is a goal of most governments and can be achieved by increasing revenues and reducing expenditures.
Public deficit is distinct from public debt, although the terms are sometimes mistakenly used interchangeably. Public debt refers to all money and services owed by government to internal and external organizations, including financial institutions and other governments, and through unpaid contracts. Deficit is debt in a more specific period; refers to the difference in income and expenses over a specific period of time. A policy of deficit spending, or spending above annual revenues, can increase the total public debt over time.
In almost all governments, the public deficit exists regularly. Many government economies use a policy known as deficit spending, which allows spending even when revenues don’t break even the budget. Deficit spending usually involves issuing government bonds, which are offered to investors to raise revenues in order to help reduce the deficit. Other deficit spending tactics involve borrowing from other government funds, a complex issue that seriously risks jeopardizing some protected financing systems.
Running a country with a constant public deficit is almost universal in the 21st century. In general, the need for deficit spending is compounded by the public’s conflicting desires to keep taxes low and services high. Since taxes make up the bulk of government revenue, these opposing desires create a political climate that makes it almost impossible to avoid deficit spending. In an attempt to keep taxpayers happy, governments can create a deeper deficit by providing reduced taxes and increased spending, but this strategy can drive a country closer to insolvency in the long run.
While deficit management is an important area of government, not all deficit increases occur as a result of government policy. If a country experiences a major recession and subsequent unemployment crisis, tax revenue can drop significantly as people are earning less money. Likewise, a boom in economic prosperity can lead to a reduced deficit as taxpayers are pushed to higher levels.
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