To be sure, it was based on unrealistically optimistic assumptions about the depth of the recession, the strength of the recovery, and the level at which unemployment would peak. It was too heavily tilted toward tax cuts that would tend to boost saving rather than consumption.
奥巴马的强项是该妥协时就妥协，见好就收。他的 7870 亿美元财政刺激方案整体上说是好的。它固然也有种种缺陷，比如对衰退的深度、复苏的力度和失业率所可能达到的水平估计得过于乐观；比如过于依赖减税，结果是促进储蓄大于促进消费；再比如没有配合出台可靠的中期财政策略，毫无必要地让财政崩溃论的鼓吹者着实兴奋了一番。尽管如此，这一揽子刺激方案的确给美国经济打了一针救命的强心针。