INSIDE LAG: In the context of economic policies, the time between a shock to the economy and corrective government action responding to the shock. This is one of two primary lags in the use of economic policies. The other is outside lag, the time between the government action and the affect on the economy. The inside lag can be divided into the recognition lag and the implementation lag. The recognition lag is identifying the shock or need for action and the implementation is determining the appropriate policy response. Monetary policy tends to have a shorter outside lag than fiscal policy. The length of the inside and outside lags is one argument against the use of discretionary policies to stabilize business cycles. See also | economic policies | policy lags | outside lag | recognition lag | implementation lag | leading economic indicator | business cycle | monetary policy | fiscal policy |
