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
- | Research Papers Research Papers
A Fiscal Accounting of COVID Inflation
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Milton Friedman, the Free Market, and France | CBS Radio
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
A Few Fiscal Events We Should Worry About More | National Review
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
America, France, and the Free Market | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The Beginnings of a Responsible Debt-Reducing Commission | CBS Radio
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Congress Can Redeem Itself by Calling for Help | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Taxes Impact on Congressional Spending | KCMO radio’s “Peter Mundo Morning Show”
- | 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
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
No Populists in Sight in the World of Politics | Creators Syndicate
- | 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
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Americans Learned a Financial-Crisis Lesson. Washington Did Not. | Creators Syndicate
- | 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
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Cult of 'Forever Low' Interest Rates Had to End Sometime | Creators Syndicate
Latest work in Government Spending
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Research Papers Research Papers
A Fiscal Accounting of COVID Inflation
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Milton Friedman, the Free Market, and France | CBS Radio
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
A Few Fiscal Events We Should Worry About More | National Review
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
America, France, and the Free Market | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The Beginnings of a Responsible Debt-Reducing Commission | CBS Radio
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Congress Can Redeem Itself by Calling for Help | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Taxes Impact on Congressional Spending | KCMO radio’s “Peter Mundo Morning Show”
- | 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
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
No Populists in Sight in the World of Politics | Creators Syndicate
- | 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
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Americans Learned a Financial-Crisis Lesson. Washington Did Not. | Creators Syndicate
- | 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
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Cult of 'Forever Low' Interest Rates Had to End Sometime | Creators Syndicate
Latest work in Government Spending
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Research Papers Research Papers
A Fiscal Accounting of COVID Inflation
- | 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
Latest work in Government Spending
- | 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”
- | 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
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
$33 Trillion Debt and No Memory of the 1950s and 60s Growth With Surplus | CBS Radio’s “Eye on the World with John Batchelor”
- | 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”
Latest work in Government Spending
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
"Bidenomics" Is Not the Solution to Helping Low Income Americans
- | 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
Latest work in Government Spending
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
A Few Fiscal Events We Should Worry About More | National Review
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
America, France, and the Free Market | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Congress Can Redeem Itself by Calling for Help | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
No Populists in Sight in the World of Politics | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Americans Learned a Financial-Crisis Lesson. Washington Did Not. | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Cult of 'Forever Low' Interest Rates Had to End Sometime | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
'Good Government' Is a Two-Way Street | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
More on Interest Rates | National Review
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Solving America’s Housing Woes or Making Them Worse? | Creators Syndicate
- | 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