If the U.S. government were to require a balanced budget each year, the consensus is that it would increase the ability of the government to help the economy in times of inflationary and deflationary gaps. decrease the ability of the government to help the economy in times of inflationary and deflationary gaps. improve the government's role in the economy. prove the government should behave just like a household. When income tax rates (the tax due on all yearly income) increase as a household's income increase, it is known as a(n) progressive tax system. payroll tax. decreasing tax rate. individual income tax