Crowding Out (economics)

Crowding Out (economics)

In economics, crowding out is a phenomenon occurring when expansionary fiscal policy causes interest rates to rise, thereby reducing investment spending. That means increase in government spending crowds out investment spending.

Changes in fiscal policy shifts the IS curve, the curve which describes equilibrium in the goods market. A Fiscal Expansion shifts IS curve to the right from IS1 to IS2. A fiscal expansion increases equilibrium income from Y1 to Y2 and interest rates from i1 to i2. At unchanged interest rates i1, the higher level of government spending increase the level of Aggregate Demand. This increase in demand must be met by rise in output. At each level of interest rate, equilibrium income must rise by the multiplier times the increase in government spending.

If the interest rate stayed constant at i1, the goods market is in equilibrium in that planned spending equals output, but the assets market is no longer in equilibrium. Income has increased, and, therefore, the quantity of money demanded is higher. Because there is an excessive demand for real balances, the interest rate rises. Firms planned spending declines at higher interest rates, thus the aggregate demand falls. Therefore, the equilibrium is at higher interest rates. The adjustment of interest rates and their impact on aggregate demand dampen the expansionary effect of the increased government spending.