What is a budget deficit?

Study for the Social Studies BJC Exam. Engage with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Prepare thoroughly for your Social Studies test!

Multiple Choice

What is a budget deficit?

Explanation:
A budget deficit occurs when the government spends more money than it takes in as revenue. In that situation, the gap is usually covered by borrowing, which adds to the national debt. So the defining idea is that spending exceeds revenue. If revenue is greater than spending, that would be a budget surplus, not a deficit. A tax cut can contribute to a deficit if it lowers revenue while spending stays high, but it isn’t the definition itself. The phrase about the government running a deficit describes the outcome, not the condition that defines a deficit.

A budget deficit occurs when the government spends more money than it takes in as revenue. In that situation, the gap is usually covered by borrowing, which adds to the national debt. So the defining idea is that spending exceeds revenue. If revenue is greater than spending, that would be a budget surplus, not a deficit. A tax cut can contribute to a deficit if it lowers revenue while spending stays high, but it isn’t the definition itself. The phrase about the government running a deficit describes the outcome, not the condition that defines a deficit.

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