The Economic Stimulus Checks: Will They Boost the Nation’s Sluggish Economy this Summer? June 5, 2008

Host: The Heritage Foundation. Over the last several weeks, millions of taxpayers have received their “economic stimulus” checks. Many Washington policymakers are hoping that these taxpayers go out and spend these funds and help boost the economy. Indeed, Congress passed legislation earlier this year that granted $600 to individuals ($1,200 to married taxpayers) on the assumption that just such a response would occur.
Will taxpayers boost their purchases of goods and services, or will they pay down debt and save the stimulus checks? The next few months will tell. In the meantime, Heritage has gathered four of the nation’s top experts on this subject to review economic research supporting and questioning the assumptions behind Congress’s actions last winter.
Dr. Norbert Michel from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana will discuss his pioneering research challenging the view that stimulus checks will do what Congress intended. Commenting on his research will be Dr. Alan Viard, Steve Entin, and Rea Hederman.

Official Website: http://www.heritage.org/Press/Events/ev060508a.cfm