Which president started trickle down economics?

Asked by: Jana Yundt  |  Last update: February 17, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (52 votes)

President Ronald Reagan is most famously associated with starting "trickle-down economics," a term used to describe his supply-side policies (Reaganomics) that involved significant tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy, intended to spur investment and growth that would then benefit everyone. While Reagan promoted these ideas, the term "trickle-down" was popularized by Democrats to criticize the theory, which focuses tax breaks on top earners with the belief it stimulates the broader economy.

Who was responsible for trickle down economics?

This is why Reaganomics and supply economic theories are often referred to as “trickle down economics.” The term “trickle down economics” was actually coined by social commentator Will Rogers several decades earlier to mock to President Hoover's policies during the Great Depression.

Has the US economy grown under Trump?

The economy is growing at about the same pace as it did in Obama's last years, and unemployment, while lower under Trump, has continued a trend that began in 2011." Nominal wages, consumer and business confidence, and manufacturing job creation (initially) compared favorably, while government debt, trade deficits, and ...

What US president believed in trickle down economics?

The president most famously associated with trickle-down economics is Ronald Reagan, whose "Reaganomics" policies in the 1980s focused on tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, deregulation, and reduced social spending, believing these benefits would then "trickle down" to the rest of the economy through job creation and investment. While Reagan championed these supply-side theories, the term "trickle-down" was often used critically by opponents to describe the widening wealth gap that followed these policies, though proponents point to job growth and economic expansion as successes.
 

When did the trickle-down economy start?

The term became popularized during the 1932 presidential election, associated with President Herbert Hoover's policies in response to the Great Depression. It gained further prominence with the economic strategies of President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, often referred to as "Reaganomics" or supply-side economics.

Here's Why Reaganomics is so Controversial | History

37 related questions found

Did Reagan start trickle-down?

Ronald Reagan's economic policies, dubbed "Reaganomics" by opponents, included large tax cuts and were characterized as trickle-down economics.

When did Biden's economic policy start?

Biden's $1.9 trillion relief package, the American Rescue Plan Act, was signed into law in March 2021. Many observers identified it to be the largest social welfare initiative undertaken by the federal government in decades, and economists predict low income households will benefit the most from the plan.

Did Reaganomics hurt the middle class?

Whether Reaganomics "destroyed" the middle class is a complex, debated topic, with evidence showing increased overall prosperity but also rising inequality; supporters point to job growth, lower inflation, and increased middle-class net worth, while critics highlight disproportionate gains for the wealthy, stagnant wages for many, and cuts to social programs, suggesting it exacerbated long-term wealth gaps despite short-term benefits. While some studies show the middle-income group shrinking as people moved up, others argue that the policies shifted the tax burden and widened the gap between the rich and everyone else, setting a trend for future decades. 

Has trickle-down ever worked?

The reason for why trickle-down economics doesn't work? Well, Durlauf says there's no reason “it ought to work.” The reasoning behind it assumes that the very wealthy have an enormous sensitivity to taxes and will change their behavior in response to tax changes, and there's no reason to believe that, he explained.

Which president made dramatic changes to the US economy?

The New Deal was a 1933–1938 series of economic, social, and political reforms in response to the Great Depression in the United States under President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Are Trump's tariffs hurting the economy?

Yes, most economic analyses suggest President Trump's tariffs are hurting the U.S. economy, increasing costs for consumers and businesses, causing layoffs, reducing investment, and creating economic uncertainty, although some sectors see limited gains while facing retaliation, leading to overall negative impacts like higher prices and reduced trade. While the tariffs aim to protect domestic industry, they act as a tax, raising prices and reducing available goods, with studies pointing to job losses in manufacturing and decreased business confidence. 

Is the economy better under Republican presidents?

Economic data since WWII often shows stronger performance under Democratic presidents, with faster GDP growth, more job creation, and lower unemployment, though many factors beyond presidential control influence the economy, and some analysts argue these patterns are due to luck or global events rather than just policy. Republicans often advocate for policies like tax cuts, while Democrats focus on middle-class investment, leading to debates about which approach best benefits the economy, with data frequently showing Democratic administrations outperforming on metrics like job growth and income, as noted by sources like the Joint Economic Committee and the Economic Policy Institute. 

Which president had the highest economic growth?

Determining the "best" economic growth under a U.S. President depends on the metric (GDP, job creation, wages) and time period, but Bill Clinton (strongest peacetime growth in decades), Ronald Reagan (significant post-recession rebound), and Franklin D. Roosevelt (leading through the Great Depression and WWII) are often cited, alongside recent strong starts for Donald Trump (pre-pandemic) and Joe Biden (post-pandemic recovery), highlighting diverse eras and challenges. 

What did Ronald Reagan do to the economy?

The pillars of Reagan's economic policy included increasing defense spending, slowing the growth of government spending, reducing the federal income tax and capital gains tax, reducing government regulation, and tightening the money supply in order to reduce inflation.

Did Reaganomics reduce poverty?

Though the standard of living rose, its growth was no faster than during 1950-1980. Income inequality increased. The rate of poverty at the end of Reagan's term was the same as in 1980. Cutbacks in income transfers during the Reagan years helped increase both poverty and inequality.

Is trickle-down good for the middle class?

Trickle-down economics, also known as “supply-side economics” is a theory that suggests that reducing taxes on businesses and wealthy individuals will stimulate economic growth, ultimately benefiting the working class and middle class through increased job opportunities and higher wages.

Who benefited the most from the Reagan tax cuts?

The First Hand Results of the Reagan Recovery

  • $9,000 Reagan tax cuts saved the median-income two-earner American family of four close to $9,000 in taxes.
  • 25%Employment of African-Americans rose by more than 25% between 1982 and 1988.
  • 50%More than half of the new jobs created went to women.

What president pushed trickle-down economics?

The president most famously associated with trickle-down economics is Ronald Reagan, whose "Reaganomics" policies in the 1980s focused on tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, deregulation, and reduced social spending, believing these benefits would then "trickle down" to the rest of the economy through job creation and investment. While Reagan championed these supply-side theories, the term "trickle-down" was often used critically by opponents to describe the widening wealth gap that followed these policies, though proponents point to job growth and economic expansion as successes.
 

What are economists saying about 2025?

The Economist's 2025 predictions, published in late 2024, centered on a year of significant uncertainty driven by Donald Trump's return to the US presidency, impacting trade (more tariffs), geopolitics (US-China rivalry, Middle East), and global economics (slowing growth, inflation easing). Key themes included potential disruptions from US policy shifts, a boom in clean tech driven by China, and the ongoing challenge of balancing inflation control with economic growth, alongside the growing influence of AI and aging populations. 

Did Reagan do anything good?

Reagan left the presidency in 1989 with the American economy having seen a significant reduction of inflation, a fall in the unemployment rate, and the longest peacetime economic expansion in U.S. history at that time; the national debt had nearly tripled since 1981 as a result of his tax cuts and increased military ...

Did Ronald Reagan ever raise taxes?

This act was an agreement between Reagan and the Congress that raised revenues for the following years. Following that increase, there were 3 other tax increases from 1983 to 1987 for other various reasons.

Which US president had recessions?

Recessions

  • February 2020 (Trump / R)
  • December 2007 (Bush 43 / R)
  • March 2001 (Bush 43 / R)
  • July 1990 (Bush 41 / R)
  • July 1981 (Reagan / R)
  • January 1980 (Carter / D)
  • November 1973 (Nixon / R)
  • December 1969 (Nixon / R)

What is considered a healthy inflation rate?

(Deflation, on the other hand, refers to the general decline of such prices.) While some inflation is healthy — typically around a 2 percent annual increase in prices — a rapid growth or decline in prices can have negative effects on the economy.

What has Joe Biden done that is good?

Biden oversaw the strongest economic recovery of any G7 nation post COVID-19 and one of the strongest economic recoveries in United States history, breaking a 70-year record for low unemployment, and the creation of over 16 million new jobs, the most of any single term president.

How many bills did Biden pass in his first 100 days?

In his first 100 days, President Biden signed 42 executive orders, more than any of his predecessors since Harry S. Truman. Many of these executive orders were reversals to Donald Trump's policies and to resume where Barack Obama—under whom Biden served as vice president—left off after his two terms in office.