Moody’s Analytics estimates that for every $1.00 spent on state and local government services the economy grows by $1.39. That is an immediate 139% return on the dollar. By comparison, on average for every dollar spent on tax cuts, the economy grows at a significantly slower rate. For example, $1 spent on a corporate tax cut returns just 51 cents—an increase of only 51%.  Moreover, the benefits of many tax cuts—such as corporate tax cuts—go mostly to the wealthiest Americans. Working families are most helped by investments such as spending on food, infrastructure and aid to state and local governments.

Sources: Items marked with an * are from Moody’s Analytics, “Struggling Through: Household Finances In the Pandemic,” (Oct. 12, 2020), Table 1, p. 4. https://www.moodysanalytics.com/-/media/article/2020/struggling-through-household-finances-in-the-pandemic.pdf

Other items from Moody’s Analytics, “Written Testimony of Mark Zandi, Chief Economist, Moody’s Analytics Before the Congressional Oversight Commission,” (Sep. 17, 2020), Table 1, p. 4. https://coc.senate.gov/sites/default/files/2020-09/MLF%20Testimony%20-%20ZANDI.pdf