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.

• 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.