The Federal Government
The Federal Government is the single largest influence on the U.S. economy. There are two main areas in which the government can impact the economy: fiscal policy and monetary policy. Through its spending and taxing policies, the government raises revenues and purchases vital goods and services for the country. When the government spends and taxes, this is known as fiscal policy. Monetary policy describes the actions of the central bank, known as the Federal Reserve. The central bank helps to regulate interest rates and the activities of all the commercial banks in the country.