English

Objectives of Government Budget

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Estimated time: 13 minutes
CBSE: Class 12
National Testing Agency: Class 12

Objectives of Government Budget

  • Redistribution of income and wealth - through progressive taxation and transfer payments to bring about a fair distribution.
  • Re-allocation of resources - budgetary policy balances profit maximisation with social welfare.
  • Economic growth - creates conditions for higher savings and investment.
  • Employment generation - promotes labour-intensive technology; funds public works (roads, dams, canals, bridges); runs poverty and unemployment reduction programmes.
  • Economic stability - reduces fluctuations in prices and exchange rates; moderates the trade cycle.
  • Management of public enterprises (PSUs) - controls revenues and expenditures of public sector undertakings through the budget.
CBSE: Class 12

Functions of a Government Budget

1. Allocation Function

  • Government provides public goods - e.g., national defence, roads, and public administration.
  • Private firms do not supply public goods because of the free rider problem.
  • The government uses the budget to allocate resources toward these goods.

2. Distribution Function

  • Uses taxes and transfer payments to change personal disposable income.
  • Goal: achieve a fair distribution of income and wealth.
  • Tool: progressive taxation (higher tax on higher income).

3. Stabilisation Function

  • Government adjusts aggregate demand to stabilise the economy.
  • During recession → demand is boosted → revives income and employment.
  • During inflation → demand is curtailed → controls price rise.

Public Goods vs. Private Goods

Feature Public Goods Private Goods
Consumption Non-rivalrous Rivalrous
Excludability Non-excludable Excludable
Free Rider Problem Yes No
Supplier Government Private firms

*Non-rivalrous: Use by one person does not reduce availability for others.
*Non-excludable: No one can be prevented from using the good.

CBSE: Class 12

Trade Cycle Phases

The stabilisation function helps moderate the following phases of the trade cycle:

Boom → Recession → Depression → Recovery

Economic cycle diagram

CBSE: Class 12

Key Points: Objectives of Government Budget

  • The government budget has three core functions: Allocation, Distribution, and Stabilisation.
  • Public goods are non-rivalrous and non-excludable — the private sector will not supply them due to the free rider problem.
  • Redistribution is achieved through progressive taxes and transfer payments to alter personal disposable income.
  • The stabilisation function manages aggregate demand to counter inflation and recession.
  • Employment generation includes promoting labour-intensive technology and funding public works.
  • The budget also controls PSU finances (revenues and expenditures) to manage public enterprises.
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