In what ways do the components of aggregate expenditure affect the level of income, employment and growth in an economy?

The components of aggregate expenditure (and of GDP) are
consumer spending, investment, and government spending.  The higher the values of these
components, of course, the greater the level of income, employment, and growth in an
economy.

However, we can go further than that and say that
consumer spending is more important in the short term and investment is more important
in the long term.  If there is low consumer spending (as in the US right now),
employment, income and growth will be low in the short term.  If consumer spending is
hight, these things will be high.  But even if consumer spending is high, this does not
do much for long term prospects.  Instead, investment is what is important.  Assuming
that it is done wisely, investment allows for economic growth.  It increases the
potential level of aggregate supply by increasing the amounts of capital goods that
exist in the economy.  Investment makes it possible for growth to happen in the future
even though it does not do as much for employment and income in the near
term.