WASHINGTON — The $825 billion stimulus proposal that Democrats unveiled last week may encounter stiff opposition from conservatives on Capitol Hill. But it isn't meeting significant resistance from conservative economists.
While economists might quibble with specifics, the vast majority agree that some kind of massive government spending plan is necessary.
"Most conservative economists are all for it," said Mark Zandi, a founder of Moody's Economy.com who advised GOP presidential candidate John McCain.
The reason is fairly straightforward. With economic uncertainty higher than at any time since the Great Depression, consumers and businesses are more reluctant to resume spending than in previous downturns.....
Republican lawmakers are uncomfortable with government spending programs, usually preferring tax cuts. But so far, Republicans have not demanded new tax cuts. One reason is that while permanent tax cuts can foster long-term growth, in the short term most economists agree they create less economic demand than direct government spending.
Economists explain the debate this way: When the government spends $1 to buy an item or a service, economic output (or gross domestic product) automatically goes up by $1. And then it goes up a bit more, because whoever gets that $1 spends at least part of it buying supplies or paying workers, who in turn use it to buy food, gas or medical care. So $1 of direct government spending becomes roughly $1.57 of GDP, according to projections by economic advisers to President-elect Barack Obama.