1. Recent press reports indicate that the European Central Bank is considering introducing quantitative easing to ease the aggregate demand losses associated with the implementation of fiscal austerity programs as deflation threatens. If calibrated correctly, this strategy will replace the net financial assets destroyed by the fiscal austerity.

2. The expansionary impact of deficit spending on aggregate demand is lower when the government matches the deficit with debt-issuance than if it just instructed the central bank to fund its spending account. This is because debt-issuance drains excess reserves resulting from the deficits and purchasing power is accordingly withdrawn from the monetary system.

3. Imagine that the government is choosing between a tax cut that will reduce tax revenue at the current level of national income by $x and a spending increase of $x. Which policy option will have the greater initial impact on aggregate demand?