Biden's economic plan calls for much bigger gov't role — will it work?

WASHINGTON — In his rollout Wednesday of massive spending plans for infrastructure, education, health care and other domestic issues, President Joe Biden is seeking a new, far more active role for the government in shaping the nation’s economy.

If he succeeds, many economists think Biden could trigger major increases in growth and productivity, and greater U.S. competitiveness in global markets.

That in turn could reduce income inequality, lower poverty rates and reverse decades of stagnation in middle-class incomes.

Biden’s proposals, which carry a $2 trillion-plus price tag and come on top of an already-approved $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, will face fierce challenges in Congress. But if the president wins even a major