Since the worldwide economic crisis hit in 2008, not a day has gone by without mention in the media, in the office and classroom, or at home of stimulus plans. They are the subject of intense debate, disagreement, hope, and despair. Some people believe they're a necessary tool to lift a sagging economy, while others are convinced they put the country on a road to financial ruin. What is a stimulus plan exactly? How is it designed to work, and what is it supposed to achieve? When do they become necessary, and when can they be phased out? What are the benefits and drawbacks of stimulus plans? All of these basic questions and more are answered in this illuminating and insightful book, providing young readers with a clear understanding of one of the most important, talked-about, and defining subjects of our era.