Fiscal policies are used by the government to stabilize the economy. During the 2020 emergency caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. government approved a stimulus package that increased the U.S. debt.

For this discussion, first play the simulation The Debt Fixer https://www.crfb.org/debtfixer )(from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget), in which you make fiscal policy decisions in an attempt to reduce the U.S. debt. You can play the simulation as many times as you like.

In your initial post, include the image (screenshot) of your simulation report in your response. Then, address the following questions:

• Share your experience in the simulation. What strategies did you pursue? Were you successful in reducing the debt?
• In your opinion, is a high national debt a problem for future economic growth? What is the ideal debt-to-GDP ratio? Research academic sources or refer to the information available through the simulation to support your opinion.
• Government spending increases national debt and can cause a crowding-out effect. Explain what the crowding-out effect is and why it's considered a negative effect of increased government spending. Use information from the textbook to support your analysis.