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Source of Public Investment

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Topics

Estimated time: 7 minutes
  • Introduction
  • Taxation
  • Loans (Borrowing)
  • Deficit Financing
  • Key Points: Source of Public Investment
CISCE: Class 12

Introduction

Public investment refers to the money spent by the government (central, state, or local) on building infrastructure, providing social services, defence, and promoting economic development. Unlike private investment, the goal is not profit — it is public welfare and economic growth.
But where does the government get the money for such investment? There are three important sources:

  1. Taxation
  2. Loans (Borrowing)
  3. Deficit Financing
CISCE: Class 12

Taxation

  • Government collects taxes to fund public investment
  • Limitation: Only transfers purchasing power from people to government — no new money is created
  • Result: No increase in investment or employment
  • Should be used sparingly
CISCE: Class 12

Loans (Borrowing)

  • Government borrows from private individuals or banks
  • Better than taxation — mobilises idle/inactive capital lying unused with public
  • Bank loans preferred over private loans — banks have surplus funds at reasonable interest rates
  • Risk: Debt burden from interest charges
CISCE: Class 12

Deficit Financing

  • Government prints new currency to cover excess expenditure over revenue
  • Most powerful tool to stimulate investment during recession
  • Keynes's View: Deficit financing is safe as long as unemployment exists (idle resources absorb new money). Inflation only arises after full employment is reached.
  • Risk: Serious danger of inflation — can destroy the gains of development
CISCE: Class 12

Key Points: Source of Public Investment

  • Taxation: Raises funds but merely transfers purchasing power; limited use recommended.
  • Public borrowing: Better than taxation; uses idle savings through bank and private loans, though it creates a debt burden.
  • Deficit financing: Creation of new money to fund investment; supported by Keynes to cure unemployment, but may cause inflation after full employment.

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