2. In 2001, President George W. Bush and Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan were both concerned about a sluggish U.S. economy.

They also were concerned about the large U.S. current account deficit.

To help stimulate the economy, President Bush proposed a tax cut,

while the Fed had been increasing U.S. money supply. Compare the effects of these two policies in terms of their implications for the current account. If policy makers are concerned about the current account deficit, discuss whether stimulatory fiscal policy or monetary policy makes more sense in this case. Then, reconsider similar issues for 2009–10, when the economy was in a deep slump, the Fed had taken interest rates to zero, and the Obama administration was arguing for larger fiscal stimulus. Why might many believe that the Fed should keep interest rates at near zero levels in 2016 and beyond as growth remains stagnant?