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Title page 1
Contents 4
Highlights 2
Letter 7
Background 10
Automatic Stabilizers Are Fiscal Mechanisms That Help Stabilize the Economy During Downturns 10
Key Automatic Stabilizer Programs 12
Discretionary Fiscal Policies 13
Automatic Stabilizers in Other Advanced Economies 13
Automatic Stabilizers are More Effective if They Are Timely, Temporary, Targeted, and Predictable 14
Automatic Stabilizers Are More Effective When They Are Timely 15
Automatic Stabilizers Are More Effective When They Are Temporary 17
Automatic Stabilizers Are More Effective When They Are Targeted 22
Automatic Stabilizers Are More Effective When They Are Predictable 27
Well-Designed Triggers Can Enhance Automatic Stabilization 29
Options to Strengthen Automatic Stabilizers Involve Trade-Offs 34
Trade-Offs and Other Considerations for Strengthening Automatic Stabilizers 35
Policy Area: Unemployment Insurance 38
Policy Area: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 55
Policy Area: Medicaid 67
Policy Area: Tax System 74
Policy Area: Earned Income Tax Credit 81
Policy Area: Child Tax Credit 94
Agency Comments and Our Evaluation 97
Appendix I: Objectives, Scope, and Methodology 99
Appendix II: Examples Of Automatic Stabilizers in Other Advanced Economies 104
Appendix III: GAO Contact and Staff Acknowledgments 113
Appendix IV: Additional Source Information for Graphics 114
Related GAO Products 116
Tables 4
Table 1. Principles and Factors for Effective Design of Automatic Stabilizers 15
Table 2. Potential Policy Options to Strengthen Automatic Stabilizers 34
Table 3. Example of Variation in Canadian Employment Insurance (EI) Benefits 106
Figures 4
Figure 1. Effects of Automatic Stabilizers During Economic Downturns 11
Figure 2. Recent Recessions Compared to a Potential Trigger to Automatically Stimulate the Economy 31
Figure 3. GAO Prototype Formula for Temporary Increased FMAP Assistance to States 70
Figure 4. Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Amount for Single-Filer Taxpayers by Number of Qualifying Children and Income for 2025 83
Figure 5. Illustrative Example of a Taxpayer in the Phase-In Range Where the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Amount Decreases with Their Earned Income 87
Figure 6. Illustrative Example of a Taxpayer in the Phase-Out Range Where Unemployment Insurance (UI) Compensation Decreases Their Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Amount 88
