Which statement best defines fiscal policy?

• A. The government's use of taxing and spending to influence the economy.
• B. The government's use of taxing, monetary, and spending powers to manipulate the economy.
• C. A plan to balance the budget through debt reduction only.
• D. A plan to regulate currency.

Answer: (B)

Fiscal policy is how the government uses its taxing and spending powers to influence the overall economy, shaping factors like growth, employment, and inflation. The best definition among the options is the one that explicitly names taxing and spending as the government’s tools to influence economic activity, because that captures the core way the government actively affects demand and economic conditions. While monetary policy (like adjusting interest rates and money supply) is typically handled by the central bank, the choice that stresses taxing and spending aligns with the standard idea of fiscal policy. The other options miss the broader purpose or mix in tools that belong to monetary policy (or focus on goals like debt reduction or currency regulation rather than the core fiscal tools).