Abstract: |
The 2012-13 Budget, which provides for an increase in taxes of $ 39 billion
and a reduction in expenditures of $ 7 billion, is strongly contractionary,
reducing aggregate demand by about 2 per cent. The government deserves praise
for starting the process of fiscal consolidation in a possible election year.
Still, given the low Australian government debt, there is no pressing need to
restore an even budget within one year and a worsening of the economic crisis
in Europe will make the budget unattainable. |