deficit spending
18
5.3
- noun
- /ˈdɛfɪsɪt ˈspɛndɪŋ/
- Specialized
- The government's strategy of deficit spending aimed to stimulate the economy during the recession.
- deficit spending by government
- deficit spending and inflation
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Watch on YouTubeThe CBO will tell him that this will create massive, massive deficit spending.
- The CBO will tell him that this will create massive, massive deficit spending.
- system of Paris and made possible in modern times by deficit spending.
- Politics is an extension of deficit spending.
- But if you look at the equities market, you look at interest rates, you look at debt, you know, government spending and deficit spending, and you look at,
Examples
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As borrowing costs rise, states face incentives to reduce deficit spending and borrowing.
Academic text (1997) -
Governments resorted to more and more deficit spending, generating high inflation.
Academic text (2012) -
Failing to recognize that most of that could have come from the deficit spending of the federal government.
Blog text (7) -
Community Services: These have been severely affected by the crisis, adding to previous deficit spending levels on communications, transportation, electric, and water service.
Academic text (2004) -
And the Fed is enabling massive deficit spending by the White House and Treasury.
Blog text (1) -
Congress just approved another $1 trillion in deficit spending (check the news today).
Blog text (8) -
For example, an expansionary economic policy was clearly in place as measured by deficit spending, reduction in unemployment, and lower interest rates.
Academic text (1992) -
The eurozone needs to establish a way to authorize deficit spending in periods like these.
Blog text (8) -
But we achieved peace with the Soviets only after significant deficit spending to make our military and weaponry stronger.
Blog text (6) -
Regimes in 1970-81 sought to sustain economic activity by massive deficit spending, which led to hyperinflation.
Academic text (1991)
Synonyms
1
6.7
Government spending to make the economy grow
Spending the government borrows to help the economy during a slowdown
How Large
32
5.0
- Specialized
90
3.7
- Specialized
18
5.3
212
3.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'government spending more than it receives' is directly and compositionally derived from 'deficit' (a shortfall) modifying 'spending' (expenditure); a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to spending that creates or reflects a deficit. This noun-modifier pattern is common and found cross-linguistically in comparable fiscal terms, so the expression is readily comprehensible to B1 learners.
Etymology
The noun deficit spending comes from a clear image: deficit means a gap or not enough money and spending means using money. Imagine a government that keeps paying for things even when its money box is empty and so must 'borrow' to cover the gap — that's why the phrase means the government spends more than it gets.