One reason for not requiring a balanced federal budget at all times is that with a balanced-budget rule:

Question

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In a recession, the government needs to increase its spending to stimulate the economy. If a balanced-budget rule was in place, the government would not be able to do so, and the economy would suffer even more. The automatic stabilizing powers of our system of taxes and transfers would not be able to work effectively in this situation. Therefore, not requiring a balanced federal budget at all times can be helpful in such scenarios.

One Reason for Not Requiring a Balanced Federal Budget at All