Presentation by Aaron Betz, an analyst in CBO's Macroeconomic Analysis Division, at the NABE Foundation's 22nd Annual Economic Measurement Seminar.
Summary
CBO regularly publishes economic projections that are consistent with current law—providing a basis for its estimates of federal revenues, outlays, deficits, and debt. A key element in CBO's projections is its forecast of potential (maximum sustainable) output, which is based mainly on estimates of the potential labor force, the flow of services from the capital stock, and potential total factor productivity in the nonfarm business sector. This presentation describes CBO's most recent 10-year projections of potential output, highlighting the importance of potential total factor productivity. It discusses how CBO adjusts its forecast of total factor productivity growth to account for factors such as government investment, immigration, and investment in research and development.