Interest Rates
The Federal Reserve can alter the Federal Funds Target
Rate—the figure that directly influences the prime interest rate—to
stimulate lending to businesses and consumers. When the prime rate dips,
borrowing becomes more profitable. This encourages businesses to
expand, and allows consumers to experience temporary increases in
discretionary income.
Tax Incentives
Aside from the age-old
argument that lower corporate income taxes encourage business activity,
the government has other techniques in its tax toolkit that can
stimulate specific industries. Tax incentives to certain types of
businesses, or incentives for consumers who patronize certain
industries, can give fledgling markets a powerful boost. A prime example
of this is the business and residential solar power industry. Tax
incentives encourage entrepreneurs to start new solar power businesses,
and incentives to purchasers encourage small businesses and families to
purchase solar equipment.
Trade Policies
Foreign trade
policies, such as tariffs and import quotas, can be lowered or
eliminated to encourage foreign trade. Relaxed trade restrictions and
free-trade zones can allow local businesses to realize significant cost
savings, allowing them to increase their bottom lines. The ability to
outsource labor and manufacturing to lower-cost markets in addition to
sourcing cheaper materials helps to increase profit margins, encouraging
business expansion.
Contracting
Government entities directly
encourage business activity when they contract with private companies to
perform government responsibilities. Counties, for example, can
contract with third-party road pavers, snow plowers and towing services
rather than creating internal departments for these activities. At the
federal level, contractors are used for war-zone logistics and
intelligence processing, among other things.
Grants, Loans and Disbursements
The
government has access to an entire population's worth of individual and
business tax money, and has the ability to distribute that money to
affect change throughout the economy.
Loans and grant programs
offered directly to entrepreneurs are one way to use tax revenue to
stimulate business activity. Another way, according to America.gov, is
to fund agencies and programs such as the Small Business Administration,
which provide assistance to startup entrepreneurs. Unemployment and
other federal assistance benefits ensure that a large number of people
have enough money to pay their bills, leaving them with extra
discretionary income that generally falls into the hands of businesses
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