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
- | 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
- | 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
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Spending Growth, Not Tax Policy, Is the Main Driver of Federal Debt
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The US Debt and Its Discontents | The John Batchelor Show
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Why the Debt Ceiling Continues to Matter | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
US Debt Ceiling Concerns Grow | BBC News
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Biden Needs to Come to the Debt-ceiling Negotiating Table | National Review's "The Corner"
- | 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
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
What You Need to Know About the Debt Ceiling Debate | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
As Congress Pivots to Debt, It Shouldn’t Forget the Inflation Connection | The Hill
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Congress Spending Drives the Inflation That Fights the Fed: Self-sustaining Price Instability | The John Batchelor Show
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
One Stat Rarely Tells the Story | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Biden Wants To Reshape the Economy by Investing in America, Not Unlike Trump | NPR
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Swift, Short Countdown to Severe Cuts in Social Security and Medicare | The John Batchelor Show
Latest Work in Government Spending
- | 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
- | 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
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Spending Growth, Not Tax Policy, Is the Main Driver of Federal Debt
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The US Debt and Its Discontents | The John Batchelor Show
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Why the Debt Ceiling Continues to Matter | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
US Debt Ceiling Concerns Grow | BBC News
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Biden Needs to Come to the Debt-ceiling Negotiating Table | National Review's "The Corner"
- | 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
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
What You Need to Know About the Debt Ceiling Debate | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
As Congress Pivots to Debt, It Shouldn’t Forget the Inflation Connection | The Hill
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Congress Spending Drives the Inflation That Fights the Fed: Self-sustaining Price Instability | The John Batchelor Show
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
One Stat Rarely Tells the Story | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Biden Wants To Reshape the Economy by Investing in America, Not Unlike Trump | NPR
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Swift, Short Countdown to Severe Cuts in Social Security and Medicare | The John Batchelor Show
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
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
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Congress Spending Drives the Inflation That Fights the Fed: Self-sustaining Price Instability | The John Batchelor Show
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Biden Wants To Reshape the Economy by Investing in America, Not Unlike Trump | NPR
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Swift, Short Countdown to Severe Cuts in Social Security and Medicare | The John Batchelor Show
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Federal Budget & Government Spending | C-SPAN
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The Automated Federal Entitlement Spending of Tomorrow | The John Batchelor Show
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Measures to Avoid Defaulting on the Federal Debt | The David Webb Show
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The Debt Crisis Is Different From What Both Parties Claim | The Federalist Radio Hour
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The Debt Ceiling, Part 1 | WTIC Radio (CT)
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The Debt Ceiling, Part 2 | WTIC Radio (CT)
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
The Debt Ceiling Debate | Newt's World
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Increased Spending | The John Batchelor Radio Show
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
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
Biden Needs to Come to the Debt-ceiling Negotiating Table | National Review's "The Corner"
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
What You Need to Know About the Debt Ceiling Debate | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
As Congress Pivots to Debt, It Shouldn’t Forget the Inflation Connection | The Hill
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
One Stat Rarely Tells the Story | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
China’s Cities Learning the Price of Overspending | National Review's "The Corner"
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Government Grows on Crisis | National Review's "The Corner"
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The President's Budget Reveals the Real Priority: Tax Hikes | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Biden’s Budget: Nearly Doubling the Debt in Ten Years | National Review's "The Corner"
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Democrats Are Offering Solutions to Reform Social Security and Medicare | National Review's "The Corner"
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Getting Past the Debt Blame Game | Tribune News Service
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Here’s Why Spending Fights Are Getting More Frequent | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Why Would Republicans Rule Out Social Security and Medicare Reform? | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Bipartisan Accumulation of $31 Trillion in Debt | National Review's "The Corner"
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Republicans Must Avoid Repeating History With the Budget | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Debt-Ceiling Fight Is a Symptom of Congress’s Disease | National Review's "The Corner"
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Belligerent Spending, a Congressional Addiction | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary