pump priming

American  

noun

1. the spending of government funds in commercial enterprises, to stimulate the national economy.

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pump priming British  

noun

1. the act or process of introducing fluid into a pump to improve the sealing of the pump parts on starting and to expel air from it

2. government expenditure designed to stimulate economic activity in stagnant or depressed areas

3. another term for deficit financing

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pump priming Cultural  

1. Informally, government spending to increase purchasing power and stimulate the economy.

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Etymology

Origin of pump priming

An Americanism dating back to 1935–40

Example Sentences

Going forward, government efforts to restart the economy will have to mature from simply handing out money to targeting specific sectors that require pump priming.

From Washington Times • Jun. 10, 2020

After all, Japan remained in its conservative financial policy funk for over 20 years and is just beginning to struggle with pump priming policy initiatives.

From Forbes • Oct. 9, 2014

The entrepreneurial model developed by national cultural institutions, where state funding can be used as pump priming, is not widely available in cities with soaring joblessness and struggling businesses.

From The Guardian • Apr. 10, 2013

Big businessmen would gladly cooperate on such a device as railroad equipment pump priming which would be good for heavy industry.

From Time Magazine Archive

I don't think Mr. Roosevelt's pump priming will do much good because you must keep adding to it or it will go away.

From Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Arkansas Narratives, Part 6 by Work Projects Administration

Related Words

• budget deficit