The key to the implementation lag is the nature of complex bureaucracies. Bureaucracies provide structure to what would be a chaotic system, otherwise. However, with this structure comes an inherent time lag.

Government bureaucracies, including all sorts of government agencies, from the Department of Defense to the Federal Reserve System to the Agricultural Research Service, are on the frontline when it comes to implementing stabilization policies. They are the ones that carry out the dictates of the policy makers. However, their actions necessarily follow rules and procedures and can be quite methodical. This means the implementation of fiscal policy and monetary policy are likely to take weeks if not months.

More on Bureaucracies

Government stabilization policies must necessarily work their way through these complex government bureaucracies. Telephone calls are made; memos are sent; meetings are scheduled; forms are filled out; reports are written. It takes time for all of these actions to transpire.

After a particular policy has been selected, steps then need to be taken to implement the policy. For any change in spending, the appropriate government agencies need to be contacted. More often than not, this involves a change in budget appropriations. The affected agencies then need to actually make changes in their spending. The act of spending is not instantaneous. Most agencies require competitive bids to identify product suppliers before they can make the expenditures. Even the employment, then subsequent payment, of additional workers takes time. The implementation of fiscal policy is also likely to take weeks if not months.

For a change in taxes, the taxing authority (usually the Internal Revenue Service) needs to be contacted. They then need to print rebate checks, establish the new tax rates, and provide information to taxpayers. These changes cannot be accomplishes instantaneously. Even with monetary policy, the Federal Reserve System needs to work with banks and brokers through the financial markets to buy and sell government securities. These transactions also take time to complete.

Monetary versus Fiscal

• Monetary Policy: The implementation lag tends to be relatively short for monetary policy. Policy decisions are implemented by a special branch of the Federal Reserve System devoted to this task. Once a policy action is identified, then the implementation steps are begun almost immediately (often by the end of the day). And because monetary policy works through financial markets (which tend to operate quickly), implementation is often completed in short order.


• Fiscal Policy: The implementation lag tends to be relatively long for fiscal policy. Any changes in government spending or taxes need to work through the government agencies and bureaucracies before than are implemented. Bureaucracies, by their very nature, are slow to act as they make sure that necessary rules and procedures are followed. But this tends to lengthen the time needed to implement fiscal policy.

Other Lags

• Recognition Lag: This is the time it takes to identify and document the existence of an economic problem that might require government action. The recognition lag arises because it takes time to collect and analyze economic data; to verify that an actual problem exists. This lag is seldom less than a month and typically lasts a couple of months.


• Decision Lag: This is the time it takes government policy makers (Congress, the President, the Federal Reserve System) to decide on a suitable course of action and to pass whatever legislation, laws, or administrative rules are necessary. This lag could be as short as a few days, but typically lasts weeks or months.


• Impact Lag: This is the time it takes for full effect of a government policy to work its way through the economy and cause the desired changes in production and income. This lag works through the multiplier process and is likely to take a couple of years.