This volume begins with an essay by Simone I. Flynn that outlines the main underlying themes of economic policy debates and the causes of these debates. Further influencing these debates are business cycles and national elections. Steven R. Hoagland lays out the strong correlations between the two and sets a rubric for what statements presidential candidates should release regarding job growth, worker productivity, and income taxes, among others. One of the tools governments have at its disposal for altering economic cycles is monetary policy. As noted by Francis Duffy, “monetary policy sets the upward limit of money in the form of cash, demand depots, time deposits, and equities allowed to circulate in the economy at large.” A separate method governments can use to spur or slow economic growth is the lowering and raising of interest rates. Michael P. Auerbach offers information on the historical development of, the current characteristics of, and the primary impacts of interest rates. Some other effects of elections on economics are those impacting inflation rates and unemployment rates.