# Understanding Budget Deficits: Causes, Impact, and Solutions

> **Definition**
>
> A budget deficit occurs when a government's expenses exceed its revenues.

## What Is a Budget Deficit?

A budget deficit happens when a government's expenses surpass its [revenue](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/revenue.asp) and is often seen as a sign of a country's financial health. It mainly applies to [government spending and revenue](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/fiscalimbalance.asp), not businesses or individuals.

Budget deficits add up to the [national debt](https://www.investopedia.com/updates/usa-national-debt/), which is the total amount a country owes to its creditors. The causes of budget deficits include tax structures and increased government spending. The effects of budget deficits on economic growth and government programs are increased borrowing, higher interest payments, and reduced reinvestment, all together result in lower annual revenue. There are strategies that governments can use to manage or reduce budget deficits, like raising taxes or cutting spending.

### Key Takeaways

*   Budget deficits occur when government spending exceeds revenue and can indicate economic health by influencing national debt.
*   Key causes of budget deficits include imbalanced taxation, increased government spending on social programs or defense, and reduced revenue from tax cuts or low GDP.
*   Budget deficits can lead to increased borrowing, higher interest payments, and reduced investment, potentially impacting future growth and spending capabilities.
*   Strategies to manage budget deficits often involve a blend of fiscal policies, such as reducing government expenditure and raising taxes, which are subjects of significant debate.
*   The history and effects of budget deficits are rooted in major historical events, such as wartime spending, illustrating their long-term economic implications.

![Budget Deficit](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/G6WHcamWtpOYgO_nLeqzFQUz0xo=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/budget-deficit-4200237-d8ecc02a1c694f6f810610367f657daf.jpg)

*— Investopedia / Joules Garcia*

## How Budget Deficits Impact Economic Health

When a budget deficit is identified, current expenses exceed the income received through standard operations. To correct its nation's budget deficit, often referred to as a [fiscal deficit](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/fiscaldeficit.asp), a government may cut back on certain expenditures or increase revenue-generating activities.

A budget deficit can lead to higher levels of borrowing, higher interest payments, and lower reinvestment, which will result in lower revenue during the following year.

The opposite of a budget deficit is a [budget surplus.](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/budget-surplus.asp) When a surplus occurs, revenue exceeds current expenses, resulting in excess funds that can be further allocated. When the inflows equal the outflows, the budget is considered balanced.

In the early 20th century, few industrialized countries had large fiscal deficits; however, during the First World War, deficits grew as governments borrowed heavily and depleted financial reserves to finance the war and their growth. These wartime and growth deficits continued until the 1960s and 1970s, when world economic growth rates dropped.

## Key Factors Contributing to Budget Deficits

Tax levels and spending impact a government's budget deficit. Common scenarios that cause deficits by reducing revenue and increasing spending include:  

*   A tax structure that undertaxes high-wage earners but overtaxes low-wage earners.
*   Increased spending on programs like Social Security, Medicare, or military spending.
*   Increased government subsidies to targeted industries.
*   Tax cuts that decrease revenue but provide corporations with funds to increase employment.
*   Low GDP, or gross domestic product, results in lower tax revenue.

Budget deficits may occur as a way to respond to certain unanticipated events and policies, such as the increase in defense spending after the September 11 terrorist attacks.

## Impact of Budget Deficits on Society and Economy

 Budget deficits impact individuals, businesses, and the economy overall. To reduce the deficit, government spending on programs like Medicare, Social Security, or infrastructure may be cut back.  

To increase revenue, tax hikes may occur for high-income earners or large corporations, which may affect their ability to invest in new business ventures or hire new employees.

## Effective Strategies to Mitigate Budget Deficits

Countries tackle budget deficits by using [fiscal policies to promote growth](https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/032615/how-does-fiscal-policy-impact-budget-deficit.asp), such as reducing spending and raising taxes. The choice of which expenditures to cut or taxes to increase is often debated.

To pay for government programs while operating under a deficit, the federal government borrows money by selling U.S. Treasury bonds, bills, and other securities.

## What Is the Difference Between the Federal Budget Deficit and the Federal Government Debt?

A federal budget deficit occurs when government [spending outpaces revenue](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/revenuedeficit.asp) or income from taxes, fees, and investments. Deficits add to the national debt or federal government debt. If government debt grows faster than gross domestic product (GDP), the debt-to-GDP ratio may balloon, possibly indicating a destabilizing economy.

## When Was the Last Federal Budget Surplus?

The last time the U.S. government had a federal budget surplus was in 2001. In every year since there has been a federal budget deficit.  

## What Can the Government Do About a Budget Deficit?

The government can work to cut back the budget deficit by using its fiscal policy toolbox to promote economic growth, such as scaling back government spending and raising taxes.

## What Causes a Budget Deficit to Improve?

Budget deficits, reflected as a percentage of [GDP](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/gdp.asp), may decrease in times of economic prosperity, as increased tax revenue, lower unemployment rates, and increased economic growth reduce the need for government-funded programs such as unemployment insurance.

## The Bottom Line

Budget deficits are a negative balance between a government's spending and revenues. When a government spends more than it collects in tax revenues, there is a deficit. Conversely, if there is more collected than spent, there is a surplus.

Budget deficits have a significant impact on the national debt. The common causes of budget deficits are tax policies and increased spending. Increased borrowing and reduced government program funding can have a profound effect on budget deficits and the economy. Strategies for reducing deficits are cutting spending or raising taxes. Fiscal policy plays a significant role in managing budget deficits.

> **Article Sources**
>
> 1.  International Monetary Fund. "[Confronting Budget Deficits](https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/issues3/issue3.pdf)." Page 2.
>     
> 2.  Crawford, Neta C. "[United States Budgetary Costs and Obligations of Post-9/11 Wars Through FY2020: $6.4 Trillion](https://watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/files/cow/imce/papers/2019/US%20Budgetary%20Costs%20of%20Wars%20November%202019.pdf)." _Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs_, November 2019, pp. 1-2, 7.
>     
> 3.  FiscalData. "[What is the National Debt?](https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/americas-finance-guide/national-debt/)"
>     
> 4.  FiscalData. "[What is the National Deficit?](https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/americas-finance-guide/national-deficit/)"