By taxes (t) before an election, the economy may expand artificially aiding those already in power .

The answer is cutting taxes.

Explanation:

Cutting taxes is a strategy that a government administration may use to create an impression that the economy is doing well, since by cutting taxes, people would have more money to expend – which would stimulate the market condition in general. This method is often undertaken for re-election purposes so that voters would have a positive perception of the current government in power.

This describes a "progressive tax" in that the tax rate changes for people who have different incomes. This was a staple measure of the Progressive Era, in which the Progressives sought to put the political and economic emphasis back on the "common man".