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
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Bidenomics Generated Inflation That the Federal Reserve Cannot Solve Alone | CBS Radio’s “Eye on the World with John Batchelor”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Are Ordinary Americans Buying ‘Bidenomics’? | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Barreling Toward Another Government Shutdown: The Art of Political Kabuki | The Washington Times
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Surprising, Uplifting Truth About Inequality | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Inflation and President Biden's Economic Policy | Lars Larson Show
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Bidenomics | KNRS radio’s “Rod Arquette Show”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Middle Class Is Prospering | National Review’s “The Corner”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The Green Biden Administration and Unwelcome (And Thrifty) China-Made EV | CBS Radio’s “Eye on the World with John Batchelor”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Arnold Kling on Industrial Policy | National Review’s “The Corner”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Can We Really Grow Out of Debt? | National Review’s “The Corner”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
An Update on the Foxconn Deal | National Review’s “The Corner”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Congress Abusing Emergency Funds | CBS Radio’s “Eye on the World with John Batchelor”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Politicians Make a Mockery Out of ‘Emergency’ Spending | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Topical Economic Issues | WCRN radio’s “The Gary Goldman Show” (MA)
- | Monetary Policy Monetary Policy
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
First Anniversary of Inflation Reduction Act and Its Impact | WJIM radio’s “The Steve Gruber Show” (MI)
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Policing All Mergers and Acquisitions With Guidelines and Regulations | CBS Radio’s “Eye on the World with John Batchelor”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
First Anniversary of Inflation Reduction Act | WSPD radio’s “The Scott Sands Show” (OH)
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
After the US Credit Downgrade, Let’s Talk About a Radical Budgetary Change | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Recent US Credit Rating Downgrade & Economic Governance | C-SPAN
- | Monetary Policy Monetary Policy
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Do Aging Politicians Help Explain the US Credit Rating Downgrade? | The Washington Examiner
Latest work in Government Spending
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Bidenomics Generated Inflation That the Federal Reserve Cannot Solve Alone | CBS Radio’s “Eye on the World with John Batchelor”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Are Ordinary Americans Buying ‘Bidenomics’? | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Barreling Toward Another Government Shutdown: The Art of Political Kabuki | The Washington Times
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Surprising, Uplifting Truth About Inequality | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Inflation and President Biden's Economic Policy | Lars Larson Show
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Bidenomics | KNRS radio’s “Rod Arquette Show”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Middle Class Is Prospering | National Review’s “The Corner”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The Green Biden Administration and Unwelcome (And Thrifty) China-Made EV | CBS Radio’s “Eye on the World with John Batchelor”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Arnold Kling on Industrial Policy | National Review’s “The Corner”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Can We Really Grow Out of Debt? | National Review’s “The Corner”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
An Update on the Foxconn Deal | National Review’s “The Corner”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Congress Abusing Emergency Funds | CBS Radio’s “Eye on the World with John Batchelor”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Politicians Make a Mockery Out of ‘Emergency’ Spending | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Topical Economic Issues | WCRN radio’s “The Gary Goldman Show” (MA)
- | Monetary Policy Monetary Policy
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
First Anniversary of Inflation Reduction Act and Its Impact | WJIM radio’s “The Steve Gruber Show” (MI)
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Policing All Mergers and Acquisitions With Guidelines and Regulations | CBS Radio’s “Eye on the World with John Batchelor”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
First Anniversary of Inflation Reduction Act | WSPD radio’s “The Scott Sands Show” (OH)
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
After the US Credit Downgrade, Let’s Talk About a Radical Budgetary Change | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Recent US Credit Rating Downgrade & Economic Governance | C-SPAN
- | Monetary Policy Monetary Policy
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Do Aging Politicians Help Explain the US Credit Rating Downgrade? | The Washington Examiner
Latest work in Government Spending
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Fiscal Dominance: How Worried Should We Be?
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Funding Parental Leave Today with Tomorrow’s Social Security Benefits Won’t Work
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Why We Have Federal Deficits: An Updated Analysis
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Keynesian Stimulus: A Virtuous Semicircle?
- | Monetary Policy Monetary Policy
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Economic Situation, June 2021
- | Healthcare Healthcare
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Understanding CBO’s Medicare for All Cost Estimates
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Economic Situation, March 2021
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Recent Trends in US Highway and Bridge Conditions
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Research Papers Research Papers
An Analysis of Connecticut’s Public Employee Retirement Plans
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Research Papers Research Papers
An Interstate Compact to End the Economic Development Subsidy Arms Race
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Flattening the Debt Curve: Empirical Lessons for Fiscal Consolidation
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Journal Articles Journal Articles
Does Census Hiring Stimulate Jobs Growth?
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
No More State and Local Government Bailouts
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Debt and Growth: A Decade of Studies
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Public Sector Pensions and the COVID-19 Shock
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Cost of COVID-19: A Rough Estimate of the 2020 US GDP Impact
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Corporate Welfare: Beyond the Budgetary Cost
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Books Books
Decoding the Debates: Fugitive Notes on Federal Economic Policy

- | 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
Latest work in Government Spending
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Bidenomics Generated Inflation That the Federal Reserve Cannot Solve Alone | CBS Radio’s “Eye on the World with John Batchelor”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Inflation and President Biden's Economic Policy | Lars Larson Show
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Bidenomics | KNRS radio’s “Rod Arquette Show”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The Green Biden Administration and Unwelcome (And Thrifty) China-Made EV | CBS Radio’s “Eye on the World with John Batchelor”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Congress Abusing Emergency Funds | CBS Radio’s “Eye on the World with John Batchelor”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Topical Economic Issues | WCRN radio’s “The Gary Goldman Show” (MA)
- | Monetary Policy Monetary Policy
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
First Anniversary of Inflation Reduction Act and Its Impact | WJIM radio’s “The Steve Gruber Show” (MI)
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Policing All Mergers and Acquisitions With Guidelines and Regulations | CBS Radio’s “Eye on the World with John Batchelor”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Recent US Credit Rating Downgrade & Economic Governance | C-SPAN
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
US Credit Rating Down | Freedom Works Radio
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The Inflation Battle Has Years To Go To Average 2%, and Bidenomics Is Not Helping | The John Batchelor Show
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Two Years From Now Another Debt Talking | The John Batchelor Show
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
‘Across the Board’ Political Failure if the US Defaults on Its Debt | Fox Business Network
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
When Will the US Run Out of Money? It’s Tough to Say | Marketplace
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The Divided National Polling on the Debt Debate | The John Batchelor Show
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The US Debt and Its Discontents | The John Batchelor Show
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
US Debt Ceiling Concerns Grow | BBC News
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Fedspeak Takes Away While the CFPB Gives Out Free Stuff | The John Batchelor Show
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
The Debt Ceiling | Newt's World
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
US Economy Has ‘Red Ink All the Way’ Amid Ceiling Crisis
Latest work in Government Spending
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Spending Growth, Not Tax Policy, Is the Main Driver of Federal Debt
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
An Interstate Compact to End Company-Specific Subsidies
Testimony before the Illinois General Assembly, House Revenue and Finance Committee
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Ending Nondisclosure Agreements Would Reduce Subsidy Waste
Testimony before the Illinois General Assembly, House Revenue and Finance Committee
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Project No. 3-20 Proposed Changes May Obscure Government Fiscal Health
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Poor Americans Will Suffer from a Paid Leave Mandate
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Congress Should Reflect on Past Financial Relief Before Providing More
Testimony before the US Senate, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Comments on the Ex-Im Bank's Proposed Additionality Criteria
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Comments on the Ex-Im Bank's Current Economic Impact Procedures
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Comments on the Ex-Im Bank's Proposed Additionality Criteria
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Pennsylvania's Fiscal Health: Current Status and Recommendations for Improvement
Testimony before the York County, Pennsylvania Legislative Delegation
- | Academic & Student Programs Academic & Student Programs
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
How to Make the BLS Better
Testimony before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions
- | 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
The Need for Constitutional Budget Reform
Testimony before the House Committee on the Judiciary
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Response to Presidential Memorandum on Fiduciary Duty Rule
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Change the Trajectory of Debt
Testimony before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Restoring and Modernizing Social Security through Sustainable Reform
Testimony before the House Committee on the Budget
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Competitive Sourcing in Government
Testimony before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on Government Operations
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Budget Process Reform: Utilizing Performance Information to Produce Better Outcomes
Testimony before the House Committee on the Budget
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Can Budget Process Reforms Produce Better Budget Outcomes?
Testimony before the Senate Committee on the Budget
- | 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
Latest work in Government Spending
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Are Ordinary Americans Buying ‘Bidenomics’? | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Barreling Toward Another Government Shutdown: The Art of Political Kabuki | The Washington Times
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Surprising, Uplifting Truth About Inequality | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Middle Class Is Prospering | National Review’s “The Corner”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Arnold Kling on Industrial Policy | National Review’s “The Corner”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Can We Really Grow Out of Debt? | National Review’s “The Corner”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
An Update on the Foxconn Deal | National Review’s “The Corner”
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Politicians Make a Mockery Out of ‘Emergency’ Spending | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
First Anniversary of Inflation Reduction Act | WSPD radio’s “The Scott Sands Show” (OH)
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
After the US Credit Downgrade, Let’s Talk About a Radical Budgetary Change | Creators Syndicate
- | Monetary Policy Monetary Policy
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Do Aging Politicians Help Explain the US Credit Rating Downgrade? | The Washington Examiner
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
‘Bidenomics’ Is a Marketing Term | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
How Subsidizing Chips (And Everything Else) Became a Losing World Habit | InsideSources
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Student Debt Relief Effort Has Spurred Even More Borrowing | The Washington Examiner
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Wanted: A President Who Will Embrace the Spending Challenge | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Debt Ceiling Crisis May Be Over, but the Debt Crisis Is Not | North State Journal (NC)
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Surprise: Debt Conversation Brings More Pointless 'Tax-the-Rich' Talk | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
President Biden’s Debt-Ceiling Deal Isn’t Serious | National Review's "The Corner"
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Why the Debt Ceiling Continues to Matter | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary