Multiplier effect: Difference between revisions

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The '''multiplier effect''' is the effect of an injection of income into an economy upon the total income of that economy, which is  a definitional consequence<ref> As is demonstrated in the article on the [[spending multiplier]]</ref> of the [[Macroeconomics#The circular flow of income|circular flow of income]] model of the economy. The effect is to raise the total  income of the economy by a multiple of the initial injection.  and its magnitude is limited by income "leakages" (into, for example, taxation or spending on imports). If the recipients of the increases in income would otherwise be unemployed, the effect takes the form of an increase in  the level of activity in the economy: if they would otherwise be fully employed, it takes the form of an increase in the general level of prices.
The '''multiplier effect''' is the effect of an injection of income into an economy upon the total income of that economy, which is  a definitional consequence<ref> As is demonstrated in the article on the [[spending multiplier]]</ref> of the [[Macroeconomics#The circular flow of income|circular flow of income]] model of the economy. The effect is to raise the total  income of the economy by a multiple of the initial injection.  and its magnitude is limited by income "leakages" (into, for example, taxation or spending on imports). If the recipients of the increases in income would otherwise be unemployed, the effect takes the form of an increase in  the level of activity in the economy: if they would otherwise be fully employed, it takes the form of an increase in the general level of prices.


Simple multiplier models embody the implicit assumption that income leakages are a fixed proportion of the initial injection, and that the multiplier is consequently invariable. They assume, for example, that a community's [[marginal propensity to save]] is a behavioural constant. More sophisticated models take account of the effect upon behaviour of the perceived permanence or otherwise of the income injection.    
Simple multiplier models embody the implicit assumption that income leakages are a fixed proportion of the initial injection, and that the multiplier is consequently invariable. They assume, for example, that a community's [[marginal propensity to save]] is a behavioural constant. More sophisticated models take account of the effect upon behaviour of the perceived permanence or otherwise of the income injection.   Robert Barro has argued that the multiplier effect of an increase in public spending is zero because taxpayers  save an equivalent amount in anticipation of a subsequent  tax increase<ref>Robert J. Barro: ''Reflections on Ricardian Equivalence'',  National Bureau of Economic Research  Working Paper No. w5502, March 1996</ref>. The multiplier effect may also be influenced by changes that are associated with the initial injection. It has  argued that interest rate increases caused by government spending cause an offsetting "crowding out" of private sector investment
<ref>[https://research.stlouisfed.org/publications/review/70/10/Expenditures_Oct1970.pdf Roger Spencer and William Yohe: ''The "Crowding Out" of Private Expenditures by Fiscal Policy Actions'', Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis, October 1970]</ref>.


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The multiplier effect is often referred to as a measure of the effect of [[fiscal policy]] upon the level of economic activity. In that context, Robert Barro has argued that the multiplier is zero because any change in  government spending will prompt taxpayers to save an equivalent amount in anticipation of a subsequent  tax increase<ref>Robert J. Barro: ''Reflections on Ricardian Equivalence'',  National Bureau of Economic Research  Working Paper No. w5502, March 1996</ref>. Others have argued that interest rate increases caused by government spending cause an offsetting "crowding out" of private sector investment
 
<ref>[https://research.stlouisfed.org/publications/review/70/10/Expenditures_Oct1970.pdf Roger Spencer and William Yohe: ''The "Crowding Out" of Private Expenditures by Fiscal Policy Actions'', Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis, October 1970]</ref>.
   





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The multiplier effect is the effect of an injection of income into an economy upon the total income of that economy, which is a definitional consequence[1] of the circular flow of income model of the economy. The effect is to raise the total income of the economy by a multiple of the initial injection. and its magnitude is limited by income "leakages" (into, for example, taxation or spending on imports). If the recipients of the increases in income would otherwise be unemployed, the effect takes the form of an increase in the level of activity in the economy: if they would otherwise be fully employed, it takes the form of an increase in the general level of prices.

Simple multiplier models embody the implicit assumption that income leakages are a fixed proportion of the initial injection, and that the multiplier is consequently invariable. They assume, for example, that a community's marginal propensity to save is a behavioural constant. More sophisticated models take account of the effect upon behaviour of the perceived permanence or otherwise of the income injection. Robert Barro has argued that the multiplier effect of an increase in public spending is zero because taxpayers save an equivalent amount in anticipation of a subsequent tax increase[2]. The multiplier effect may also be influenced by changes that are associated with the initial injection. It has argued that interest rate increases caused by government spending cause an offsetting "crowding out" of private sector investment [3].

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  1. As is demonstrated in the article on the spending multiplier
  2. Robert J. Barro: Reflections on Ricardian Equivalence, National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper No. w5502, March 1996
  3. Roger Spencer and William Yohe: The "Crowding Out" of Private Expenditures by Fiscal Policy Actions, Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis, October 1970

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