What is fiscal policy concerned with?

Fiscal policy is primarily focused on taxation and government spending as tools to influence a nation's economy. It involves the government's decisions about how much to tax individuals and businesses, as well as how to allocate funds for public services and infrastructure projects. By adjusting tax rates and altering spending patterns, a government can influence overall economic activity, manage inflation, and aim for full employment.

For example, during a recession, a government may implement a fiscal policy that involves increasing spending or cutting taxes to stimulate economic growth. Conversely, if the economy is overheating, it might decrease spending or increase taxes to cool off inflation. This direct control over income and expenditure allows policymakers to actively manage economic performance.

In contrast, the other options relate to different areas of economic management. Regulation of the money supply is a function of monetary policy, which is primarily concerned with central bank activities and interest rates. Interest rates and inflation control also fall under monetary policy, where central banks aim to manage money supply and price stability. Lastly, foreign exchange rates are influenced by factors such as trade balances and capital flows, which do not directly pertain to fiscal policy. Therefore, taxation and government spending encapsulate the essence of fiscal policy, making it the correct focus for this question.