Liz Truss has insisted tax cuts outlined in the mini-budget are the "right plan", despite market turmoil since they were announced last week.
The prime minister insisted "urgent action" had been required to grow the economy, and the cuts would help boost growth in the long term.
She added she was "prepared to do what it takes to make that happen".
Labour has said what it called a "kamikaze budget" should be reversed to restore market confidence.
But in her first public comments since the cuts to income tax were announced by the chancellor, Ms Truss said she was prepared to take "controversial and difficult decisions".
In a series of testy interviews with BBC local radio stations, she insisted that "currencies are under pressure around the world," and blamed Russia's invasion of Ukraine for economic turbulence globally.
Last week's £45bn tax-cutting package, funded by more public borrowing, has sparked a fall in the pound and a surge in borrowing costs.
The market reaction has prompted the Bank of England to step in and buy £65bn of government debt to stop some pension funds collapsing.
Asked about the reaction to the cuts, Ms Truss said the UK had the highest tax burden in 70 years and cuts were needed to stave off an economic slump.
And questioned about the fairness of the measures, which includes scrapping the 45p income tax band for top earners, the prime minister replied: "It's not fair to have a recession."
She added there was "plenty of evidence" that reducing the tax burden would boost economic growth.
The cost of public borrowing edged higher after the PM said she would stick with her plan, with the interest paid on 10-year government debt rising.
The pound continues to flutter around $1.08, a recovery on recent days but still weak.
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