Better GDP numbers and the stimulus

In a typically wonkish post that's fairly over my head, Econbrowser argues that the 'American Recovery and Reinvestment Act' did not contribute much to the recent less-bad-than-expected growth, and that its most positive contributions to GDP are yet to come.

So I'm still of the opinion that most of its handouts to Democratic interest groups were unnecessary pork that's going to come later than would have been helpful, and crowd out some of the more desirable private investment during the coming recovery period.

In its place, I think a more immediate disbursement of funds, such as in the form of a payroll tax cut, would have been more immediately stimulative and helpful for the lagging employment numbers that are still very poor.