This volume presents 115 options that would decrease federal spending or increase federal revenues over the next decade. The federal budget deficit in fiscal year (FY) 2016 totaled $587 billion or 3.2 percent (%) of gross domestic product (GDP), up 2.5 percent (%) in year 2015. The options cover many areas ranging from defense to energy, Social Security and provisions of the tax code. This edition reports the estimated budgetary effects of various options and highlights some of the advantages and disadvantages of those options. Students pursuing research for economic coursework in high school, community college, and university levels may be interested in this vision presented by the Congressional Budget Office, Additionally, economists, federal budget analysts, political science scholars, financial planners, and lawmakers may be interested in this official resource. Related products: Other products produced by the U.S. Congressional Budget Office (CBO) are available here: https: //bookstore.gpo.gov/agency/237Economic Policy resources collection can be found here: https: //bookstore.gpo.gov/catalog/budget-economy/economic-policyEconomic Development publications are available here: https: //bookstore.gpo.gov/catalog/budget-economy/economic-development

Keeping the economy strong will require addressing two distinct but related problems. Steadily rising federal debt makes it harder to grow our economy, boost our living standards, respond to wars or recessions, address social needs, and maintain our role as a global leader. At the same time, we have let critical investments lag and left many people behind even as overall prosperity has grown. In Fiscal Therapy, William Gale, a leading authority on how federal tax and budget policy affects the economy, provides a trenchant discussion of the challenges posed by the imbalances between spending and revenue. America is facing a gradual decline as debt accumulates and delay raises the costs of action. But there is hope: fiscal responsibility aligns with both conservative and liberal goals and citizens of all stripes can support the notion of making life better for our children and grandchildren. Gale provides a plan to make the economy and nation stronger, one that controls entitlement spending but preserves and enhances their anti-poverty and social insurance roles, increases public investments on human and physical capital, and raises and reforms taxes to pay for government services in a fair and efficient way. What is needed, he argues, is to balance today's needs against tomorrow's obligations. We face significant fiscal challenges but, if we are wise enough to seize our opportunities, we can strengthen our economy, increase opportunity, reduce inequality, and build better lives for our children and grandchildren. We do not have to kill popular programs or starve government. Indeed, one main goal of fiscal reform is to maintain the vital functions that government provides. We need to act responsibly, pay for the government we want, and shape that government in ways that serve us best.