Government Spending
US public debt levels now exceed the size of the entire economy and are set to double by mid-century. Recent government spending has helped generate the largest surge in inflation in more than four decades. By showing that this surge will continue as long as policymakers fail to recognize its fiscal roots, Mercatus research endeavors to reignite and inform public debates on fiscal sustainability and entitlement reform.
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Latest work in Government Spending
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Americans Can Tell the Difference Between Rosy Economic Data and Reality | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Both Presidential Candidates Say No to Ally Japan’s Money for US Steel | CBS Radio
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
US Steel-Nippon Steel: A Global Deal for American Prosperity | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Industrial Policy and Electoral Politics | National Review
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
An Alternative To Doing Nothing About Foreign Subsidies | National Review
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Political Right Has Luxury Beliefs, Too | Reason
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Ways of Funding Government | The Budget Process at 50
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
How Middle Class Shoulders Bear the Burden of Corporate Tax Hikes | KABC radio’s “Mottek on Money”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The Middle Class Bears the Burden of Biden’s Corporate Tax Hike | KCOL radio’s “The Jimmy Lakey Show”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Reaction to PPI, Rate Cuts, and Inflation | CNBC’s “Squawk Box”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Biden's Corporate Tax Hike: Populism Versus Economic Literacy | CBS Radio
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Biden's Corporate Tax Hike: Populism Versus Economic Literacy | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Price of Budgetary Uncertainty, Part 1: The Fiscal Pain of Shutdowns | The Budget Process at 50
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
How Do We Evaluate Shutdown Costs? | The Budget Process at 50
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Get Ready for Massive Budget Fights | National Review
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Capping Credit Card Fees Is Dangerous | Freedom Works Radio
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Taxes the Right Way and Spending Cuts the Right Way | CBS Radio
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
A New Fiscal Commission Must Heed the Lesson of ‘97 | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
State of the Union Address vs. Economic Reality | National Review’s “The Corner”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Should Your Bank’s Overdraft Protection Be Considered a Junk Fee? | Lars Larson ShowLars Larson Show
Latest work in Government Spending
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Americans Can Tell the Difference Between Rosy Economic Data and Reality | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Both Presidential Candidates Say No to Ally Japan’s Money for US Steel | CBS Radio
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
US Steel-Nippon Steel: A Global Deal for American Prosperity | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Industrial Policy and Electoral Politics | National Review
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
An Alternative To Doing Nothing About Foreign Subsidies | National Review
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Political Right Has Luxury Beliefs, Too | Reason
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Ways of Funding Government | The Budget Process at 50
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
How Middle Class Shoulders Bear the Burden of Corporate Tax Hikes | KABC radio’s “Mottek on Money”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The Middle Class Bears the Burden of Biden’s Corporate Tax Hike | KCOL radio’s “The Jimmy Lakey Show”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Reaction to PPI, Rate Cuts, and Inflation | CNBC’s “Squawk Box”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Biden's Corporate Tax Hike: Populism Versus Economic Literacy | CBS Radio
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Biden's Corporate Tax Hike: Populism Versus Economic Literacy | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Price of Budgetary Uncertainty, Part 1: The Fiscal Pain of Shutdowns | The Budget Process at 50
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
How Do We Evaluate Shutdown Costs? | The Budget Process at 50
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Get Ready for Massive Budget Fights | National Review
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Capping Credit Card Fees Is Dangerous | Freedom Works Radio
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Taxes the Right Way and Spending Cuts the Right Way | CBS Radio
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
A New Fiscal Commission Must Heed the Lesson of ‘97 | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
State of the Union Address vs. Economic Reality | National Review’s “The Corner”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Should Your Bank’s Overdraft Protection Be Considered a Junk Fee? | Lars Larson ShowLars Larson Show
Latest work in Government Spending
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Revisiting the Proposal for a Wealth Tax
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Cutting Red Tape to Cut the Deficit
An Innovative Approach to Balancing the Budget
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Higher Education and the School-Work Mismatch in an Evolving Labor Market
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Research Papers Research Papers
The Economics of a Targeted Economic Development Subsidy
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Are Fiscal Rules an Effective Restraint on Government Debt?
- | Monetary Policy Monetary Policy
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Understanding the Federal Reserve
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Working Papers Working Papers
New Evidence on Debt as an Obstacle to US Economic Growth
- | Monetary Policy Monetary Policy
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
How Reliable Is Modern Monetary Theory as a Guide to Policy?
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
CBO Offers Many Options to Reduce the Federal Deficit
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The End of Policymaking and the Rise of Mandatory Spending
A Fiscal Dilemma
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Cost of a 70 Percent Marginal Tax Rate
- | Academic & Student Programs Academic & Student Programs
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Working Papers Working Papers
Income Inequality in the United States
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Averting the Multiemployer Pension Solvency Crisis
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
Ex-Im Bank's Lack of Transparency
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
Social Security Can’t Afford Paid Family Leave
Funneling general funds through Social Security to pay for family leave benefits would cost $14 billion each year to cover only half of parents
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
Ex-Im: Still "Boeing's Bank"
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
Export-Import Bank Support Does Not Affect Majority of US Exports
- | Housing Housing
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Fixing American Infrastructure
Unleash Market Forces and Promote Devolution
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Working Papers Working Papers
The Costs of a National Single-Payer Healthcare System
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Working Papers Working Papers
The Employer Penalty, Voluntary Compliance, and the Size Distribution of Firms
Evidence from a Survey of Small Businesses
Latest work in Government Spending
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Joe Biden's Irresponsible Student Loan Forgiveness | KNRS radio’s “The Rod Arquette Show”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Inflation, Bidenomics, and the Expanding Debt | WINA radio’s “The Schilling Show”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Why Consumers Are Always Right About EVs and Cupcakes | CBS Radio
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The Reality of Debt | KVOI radio’s “WakeUp! Tucson with Chris DeSimone”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
When an Item Costs More but You Still Need It? That’s “Inelastic Demand.” | Marketplace Radio
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Shrinking Potato Chip Bags vs. Exploding Debt | WJIM radio’s “The Steve Gruber Show”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Inflation and a Special Guest Coming to Iowa | WHO radio’s “The Simon Conway Show”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Is Joe Biden Focused On Snacks When He Should Be Focused On Spending? | Lars Larson Show
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
No Rate Cuts Called For With $10 Trillion Treasuries To Sell | CBS Radio
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The Child Tax Credit Grows and Grows Without Common Sense | CBS Radio
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Former Richmond Fed President Lacker: Reasonable To Expect 2-3 Rate Cuts This Year | CNBC
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
In Praise of Argentine President Javier Milei’s Speech at the World Economic Forum at Davos | CBS Radio
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
How Can We Veer Away from Crony Capitalism? | KSL-AM’s “Inside Sources with Boyd Matheson”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Back to the Risk of 1970s Inflation Shocks That the Presidential Candidates Do Not Discuss | CBS Radio
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Federal Debt and GDP | KABC radio’s “Mottek On Money”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The National Debt Is Out of Control | Lars Larson Show
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The Infamous Old Republicrats Agree With Each Other | CBS Radio
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The Infamous Old Republicrats Agree With Each Other | CBS Radio
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
After the Long Night of Inflation, Consumers Finally Expect To See the Sun | Marketplace Radio
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Three Myths, Starting With Income Inequality | CBS Radio
Latest work in Government Spending
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Can Budget Process Reforms Produce Better Budget Outcomes?
Testimony before the Senate Committee on the Budget
- | Academic & Student Programs Academic & Student Programs
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Comment on the Implementation of Country-by-Country Reporting by the Internal Revenue Service
Before the Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Restoring Equity and Fairness to the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO)
Testimony before the House Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Social Security
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Fundamental Spending Reform: The Solution to the Debt Ceiling Debate
Testimony before the House Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Modernizing the SSDI Eligibility Criteria: Trends in Demographics and Labor Markets Affecting Workers in the “Grid”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Curbing Wasteful Year-End Federal Government Spending: Reforming "Use It or Lose It" Rules
Testimony before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
First Principles of Congressional Budgeting
Testimony before the House Committee on the Budget
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
The Export-Import Bank: Winners and Losers of Government-Granted Privilege
Testimony before the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the US Senate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Subsidies Are the Problem, Not the Solution, for Innovation in Energy
Testimony before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Subcommittee on Energy
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
The High and Hidden Cost of Medicaid Expansion for Kansas
Testimony before the Kansas House Standing Committee on Health and Human Services
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Establishment of the Multi-State Plan Program for the Affordable Insurance Exchanges
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Establishing a Minimum Wage for Contractors
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Constitutional Solutions to Our Escalating National Debt: Examining Balanced Budget Amendments
Testimony Before the House Committee on the Judiciary
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Testimony on the US Export-Import Bank
Testimony Before the House Committee on Financial Services
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Dreams Deferred: Young Workers and Recent Graduates in the US Economy
Testimony Before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Policy
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Addressing the Real 'Retirement Crisis' Through Sustainable Social Security Reform
Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Draft Supporting Materials for the Science Advisory Board Panel on the Role of Economy-Wide Modeling in US EPA Analysis of Air Regulations
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Opportunity, Mobility, and Inequality in Today’s Economy
Testimony Before the Senate Budget Committee
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Why Government Institutions Fail to Deliver on Their Promises: The Public Choice Explanation
Testimony Before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Regulation, Growth, and Labor Market Recovery
Testimony before the House Committee on the Judiciary
Latest work in Government Spending
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
State of the Union Address vs. Economic Reality | National Review’s “The Corner”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Has Bidenomics Worked? It’s Too Soon to Say | Bloomberg Opinion
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Nostalgia Versus Numbers: Challenging America's Economic Pessimism | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Nostalgia Versus Numbers: Challenging America's Economic Pessimism | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Power of Symbolism | The Budget Process at 50
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Is Another Child Tax Credit Expansion Really the Best Way To Help Families? | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Deregulation vs. Subsidies | National Review
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Biden's Super Bowl Shrinkflation Blame Game | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Ignore Consumers at Your Own Risk | National Review
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Questions for the CBO Director | National Review
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
More on Interest Payments on the Debt | National Review
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Red Ink as Far as the Eye Can See | National Review
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The CFPB Is Putting Our Banking Arrangements at Risk | Creator Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
$10 Trillion in U.S. Government Bonds for Sale in 2024 | National Review
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Improving CBO Projections | The Budget Process at 50
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Don’t Gut Private Savings to Save Social Security | National Review
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Why Keep Worrying About Debt? Speculation Versus Reality | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
About the CTC Disincentive To Work | National Review
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
What Are the Prospects for an Effective Fiscal Commission? | The Budget Process at 50
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Announcements Announcements