We all remember the promises for the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA):
1) “Boost growth to 3.5 percent per year on average, with the potential to reach a 4 percent growth rate.”
2) Boost business investment
3) Pay for itself (No increase in the deficit)
4) Give the typical American household around a $4,000 pay raise
Here are a few quotes from 2017:
“This change, along with a lower business tax rate, would likely give the typical American household around a $4,000 pay raise.” Donald Trump, October 19, 2017
“Not only will this tax plan pay for itself, but it will pay down debt,” Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, Sept 2017
“I think this tax bill is going to reduce the size of our deficits going forward,” Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA), November 2017
First, on that $4,000 pay raise, from Motley Fool: Want a Tax Cut? Here’s How Much Typical Americans Saved in 2018. The analysis suggests around $1,600 to $1,900, not $4,000.
And from the Heritage Foundation: The Truth About How Much Americans Are Paying in Taxes.
“the average American household paid about $1,400 less in taxes”
And on GDP, the following table shows quarterly real GDP growth (annualized) from the BEA since the TCJA was signed. The average growth in the first eight quarters was 2.4% – nothing special – and definitely not the promised “3.5 percent per year on average”. And basically the same growth rate prior to Trump taking office.
Note: There was some pickup in early 2018 (as expected), but growth slowed in 2019. This does not include the economic collapse in the first half of 2020.
| Quarter | Real GDP Growth Annualized |
|---|---|
| Q1 2018 | 3.8% |
| Q2 2018 | 2.7% |
| Q3 2018 | 2.1% |
| Q4 2018 | 1.3% |
| Q1 2019 | 2.9% |
| Q2 2019 | 1.5% |
| Q3 2019 | 2.6% |
| Q4 2019 | 2.4% |
What about investment?
Click on graph for larger image.
This graph shows a 4 quarter average growth in Gross private domestic investment (Blue) and Nonresidential Private Investment (Red).
There was a slump in investment in 2015 and 2016 due to the collapse in oil prices, but there has been no discernible pickup in investment growth since the passage of the TCJA.
In fact, Gross private domestic investment had turned negative prior to the impact of the pandemic!
And what about the deficit?
The deficit has increased sharply during the pandemic, but the deficit had already increased significantly prior to the impact of COVID-19.
From the CBO December 2019 monthly budget review:
The federal budget deficit was $358 billion in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020, the Congressional Budget Office estimates, $39 billion more than the deficit recorded during the same period last year.
Compare that to December 2017 (before the TCJA):
The federal budget deficit was $228 billion in the first quarter of fiscal year 2018
So the TCJA didn’t pay for itself and caused a significant increase in the deficit.
In summary, there was no discernible boost in investment (investment actually fell). No sustained increase in GDP growth. No $4,000 pay raise. And the TCJA didn’t pay for itself.
