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.
Featured
Latest work in Government Spending
- | 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
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Will Student Loan Forgiveness Solve Anything for America? | Lars Larson Show
- | 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
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Is Another Child Tax Credit Expansion Really the Best Way To Help Families? | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Inflation, Bidenomics, and the Expanding Debt | WINA radio’s “The Schilling Show”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Deregulation vs. Subsidies | National Review
- | 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
- | 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
- | 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
- | 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
- | 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
Latest work in Government Spending
- | 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
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Will Student Loan Forgiveness Solve Anything for America? | Lars Larson Show
- | 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
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Is Another Child Tax Credit Expansion Really the Best Way To Help Families? | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Inflation, Bidenomics, and the Expanding Debt | WINA radio’s “The Schilling Show”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Deregulation vs. Subsidies | National Review
- | 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
- | 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
- | 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
- | 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
- | 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
Latest work in Government Spending
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Consequences of Financing Paid Parental Leave Using Social Security
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Reforming the Social Security Disability Insurance Program to Encourage Work and Labor Force Participation
Lessons from the United Kingdom
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
Social Security Trust Fund Is Running Out
- | Academic & Student Programs Academic & Student Programs
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Year-End Federal Spending and Government Waste
Reforming "Use It or Lose It" Rules
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Working Papers Working Papers
Saving Social Security Disability Insurance
Designing and Testing Reforms through Demonstration Projects
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
Changes in Revenue, Outlay, and Deficit Projections
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
Changes in the CBO’s Spending Projections
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
How Many Workers Pay the Benefits of Each Social Security Retiree?
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
A More Comprehensive View of Unemployment
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
CBO Projections Reveal the Extent of the United States’ Mandatory Spending Problem
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
Restraining Spending Is Key to Balancing the Federal Budget
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
What’s the Truth about Unemployment?
Introducing the Comprehensive Jobless Rate (U-5b)
- | Academic & Student Programs Academic & Student Programs
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Role of the Interest Deduction in the Corporate Tax Code
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
A Breakdown of US Budget Categories
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
Small Differences in Rates of GDP Growth Have Huge Impacts on Living Standards
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
How Much Does the Middle Class Earn?
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
Federal Spending in Perspective, Part 2
- | Healthcare Healthcare
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Stabilizing the ACA’s Individual Markets
Why State Innovation Is Key
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
Rising Interest Rates Would Explode the Federal Debt
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
Federal Spending in Perspective, Part 1
Latest work in Government Spending
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Does Congress Have an Idea Other Than Spending? | CBS Radio
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
EVs and Declining Gas Tax Revenues | Lars Larson Show
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Moving Towards an EV Future | WWRC radio’s “The Answer”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Holding the Federal Government Accountable | Lars Larson Show
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
How To Pay for the Highways With Maximum EVs and Minimum to No Gasoline Taxes | CBS Radio
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Milton Friedman, the Free Market, and France | CBS Radio
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The Beginnings of a Responsible Debt-Reducing Commission | CBS Radio
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Taxes Impact on Congressional Spending | KCMO radio’s “Peter Mundo Morning Show”
- | Financial Markets Financial Markets
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
FinRegRant Episode 3: The Unholy Trinity | FinRegRag
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The Federal Debt and “Deficit Fundamentalists” | CBS Radio’s “Eye on the World with John Batchelor”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Should the Feds Borrow With Adjustable Interest Rates? | Lars Larson Show
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
No Plan To Pay for Government Borrowing Amid Inflation | KCOL radio’s “Mornings with Jim Lakey”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Debt That Congress Will Not Speak | CBS Radio
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Inflation and Rising Interest Rates | WSBA
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Interest Rates | WGMD
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Inflation and the Economy | WDUN
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The Impact of the Federal Budget Deficit | American Radio Journal
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Inflation Not Solved; Deficits Not Solved | CBS Radio
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Fed Is Far From Getting Inflation Under Control | Lars Larson Show
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Student Loan Spending $9B Equals Higher Interest Rates for Longer | CBS Radio
Latest work in Government Spending
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
The Employment Impact of Regulation
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Reforming Social Security to Better Promote Retirement Security
Testimony before the House Committee on Ways and Means
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
The Effect of Tax Increases and Spending Cuts on Economic Growth
Testimony before the Senate Budget Committee
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Long-Term Unemployment
Testimony before the Joint Economic Committee
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
A Guarantee for Failure: Government Lending Under Sec. 1705
Testimony Before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
The Challenges of Producing Economic Data for the 21st Century
Testimony Before the Senate Joint Economic Committee
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Assessing the Department of Energy Loan Guarantee Program
Testimony Before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Addressing Concerns About the Integrity of the U.S. Department of Labor's Jobs Reporting
Testimony Before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
What Can Government Do To Create Jobs?
Testimony Before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Increasing America’s Competitiveness by Lowering the Corporate Tax Rate and Simplifying the Tax Code
Testimony Before the Senate Committee on Finance
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
U.S. Sovereign Debt Crisis: Tipping-Point Scenarios and Crash Dynamics
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Stimulus Facts
Testimony Before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Latest work in Government Spending
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Embracing Economic Freedom: Lessons from Javier Milei's World Economic Forum Address | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Kicking the Can (Slightly) Further | The Budget Process at 50
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
President Milei Is Very Different from President Trump | National Review
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Candidates: Don't Let Interest Costs Derail Your Presidential Plans | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Industrial Policy and the Administrative State | National Review
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Industrial Policy Isn’t the Way To Get a Manufacturing Boom | National Review
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Missing Workers: Seniors and Young People Without Children | National Review
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Fiscal Hawks Were Right About Debt and Interest Rates | Reason
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The End of Policy-making | National Review
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Populist Politicians Aren't So Divided on Economic Issues, and That's Bad News | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Three Economic Myths To Put To Rest This Year | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Yellen’s Sleight of Hand to Vindicate Bidenomics | The Wall Street Journal
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Congress, Here are Two Bipartisan Gift Ideas for Our Children | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Congress Will Need a New Idea in 2024. Will It Choose a Good One? | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Your Ultimate Guide to the Next Tax and Spending Battle | National Review
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
What Should Happen When Fuel-efficient Vehicles Take Over the Roads | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
More Debt Coming Our Way | National Review’s
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Scale of Government’s Fiscal Sloppiness | National Review
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Inequality Follies | National Review
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary