Final answer:
Trickle-down economics are tax policies that reduce taxes for the wealthy with the expectation that the benefits will filter down to the rest of the economy, stimulating growth and increasing employment. However, the effectiveness and equity of these policies are widely debated.
Step-by-step explanation:
Tax policies that cut taxes, often referred to as trickle-down economics, are predicated on the belief that economic benefits will filter down from the wealthy, who receive tax cuts, to the broader economy. The theory suggests that when taxes for the wealthy are reduced, they will have more resources to invest in businesses and create jobs, which ultimately benefits all levels of society through increased employment and economic activity.
The expectation with trickle-down economics is that the increased spending by consumers and reinvestment by businesses due to tax cuts will stimulate the market, leading to economic growth. This growth theoretically leads to more tax revenue in the future as new workers are hired and businesses expand. However, this approach is often debated regarding its effectiveness and whether the purported benefits actually trickle down to middle and lower-income individuals.