Government Spending
New Research Suggests That Government Spending Can Spread Happiness
Want a content citizenry? Try allocating tax dollars to roads, parks, and libraries.
Breaking Down the Ramifications of the Congressional Budget Deal
The latest deal, once again, kicked longstanding budget issues down the road, and puts more pressure on future generations.
Congress Passes Two-Week Spending Bill
Lawmakers now have until December 22nd to agree on another funding bill.
State Arts Agencies Refuse to Die
One state arts agency barely escapes extinction, while another returns to life.
How Incumbents in Washington Hurt the Economy
Researchers looking at federal government spending on states discover that having a powerful, long-tenured legislator in D.C. actually hurts the local economy.
The Price of a Fumble by the Super Committee
An experiment demonstrates the death by a thousand cuts that could result from across-the-board cuts that would follow a deadline fumble by the U.S. deficit "super committee."
U.S. Evaluating Government Programs More Than Ever
A new report finds that Washington's recent — but still limited — interest in rigorously evaluating government programs is both encouraging and unprecedented.
Budget Hawks, Enviro Doves Offer Budget Cuts
As the U.S. Congress prepares to weigh a new round of massive budget cuts mandated by this summer's deal on the deficit, some odd bedfellows offer a suite of suggestions for saving green by being green.
Tax Receipt Would Show How Your Tax Dollars Are Spent
If Americans saw exactly how their specific tax dollars were being allocated, would it change the substance or tenor of discussions on, say, the debt ceiling?
The Magic of Re-reinventing Government
Before the ideological war over entitlement reform begins, Congress should look to the ways technology can reduce the cost of government. All trillion of them.
Ten Specific Ideas for Cutting the Deficit
The U.S. government's deficit was created piece by billion-dollar piece. The bipartisan debt commission's suggestions offer specific incremental steps to reverse that process.
Clean Energy and the U.S. Handicap: One Man's Story
On-again, off-again federal support cripples emerging industries in the United States, America's pre-eminent wind energy pioneer believes.
Monster Mashups Shine Light on Government
The gushing effluvia of spreadsheets and thick reports that flow from government are dissected, reconstituted and displayed by a dedicated band of coders.
Parallels in Government Spending and Suicide
Two economists say increased public health spending may lower suicide rates. But how?