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
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Fiscal Dominance: How Worried Should We Be?
- | 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
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Federal Budget & Government Spending | C-SPAN
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Getting Past the Debt Blame Game | Tribune News Service
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The Automated Federal Entitlement Spending of Tomorrow | The John Batchelor Show
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Here’s Why Spending Fights Are Getting More Frequent | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Measures to Avoid Defaulting on the Federal Debt | The David Webb Show
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Why Would Republicans Rule Out Social Security and Medicare Reform? | Creators Syndicate
- | 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
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Bipartisan Accumulation of $31 Trillion in Debt | National Review's "The Corner"
- | 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
- | 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
Latest Work in Government Spending
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Fiscal Dominance: How Worried Should We Be?
- | 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
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Federal Budget & Government Spending | C-SPAN
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Getting Past the Debt Blame Game | Tribune News Service
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The Automated Federal Entitlement Spending of Tomorrow | The John Batchelor Show
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Here’s Why Spending Fights Are Getting More Frequent | Creators Syndicate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Measures to Avoid Defaulting on the Federal Debt | The David Webb Show
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Why Would Republicans Rule Out Social Security and Medicare Reform? | Creators Syndicate
- | 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
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Bipartisan Accumulation of $31 Trillion in Debt | National Review's "The Corner"
- | 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
- | 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
Latest Work in Government Spending
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Higher Education and the School-Work Mismatch in an Evolving Labor Market
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Research Papers Research Papers
The Economics of a Targeted Economic Development Subsidy
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Are Fiscal Rules an Effective Restraint on Government Debt?

- | Monetary Policy Monetary Policy
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Understanding the Federal Reserve

- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Working Papers Working Papers
New Evidence on Debt as an Obstacle to US Economic Growth
- | Monetary Policy Monetary Policy
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
How Reliable Is Modern Monetary Theory as a Guide to Policy?
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
CBO Offers Many Options to Reduce the Federal Deficit
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The End of Policymaking and the Rise of Mandatory Spending
A Fiscal Dilemma
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Cost of a 70 Percent Marginal Tax Rate
- | Academic & Student Programs Academic & Student Programs
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Working Papers Working Papers
Income Inequality in the United States
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Averting the Multiemployer Pension Solvency Crisis
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
Ex-Im Bank's Lack of Transparency
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
Social Security Can’t Afford Paid Family Leave
Funneling general funds through Social Security to pay for family leave benefits would cost $14 billion each year to cover only half of parents
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
Ex-Im: Still "Boeing's Bank"
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
Export-Import Bank Support Does Not Affect Majority of US Exports
- | Urban Economics Urban Economics
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Fixing American Infrastructure
Unleash Market Forces and Promote Devolution
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Working Papers Working Papers
The Costs of a National Single-Payer Healthcare System

- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Working Papers Working Papers
The Employer Penalty, Voluntary Compliance, and the Size Distribution of Firms
Evidence from a Survey of Small Businesses
- | 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
Latest Work in Government Spending
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Build Back Better Bill | The John Batchelor Radio Show
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Veronique de Rugy on The John Batchelor Show - Supply Shock "Stimulus"
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Veronique de Rugy on The John Batchelor Show - The Coming Debt Crisis
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Weifeng Zhong on C-SPAN Washington Journal - China, Trade, and COVID (Part 3)
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Weifeng Zhong on C-SPAN Washington Journal - China, Trade, and COVID (Part 2)
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Tough Lessons From Economics
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Veronique de Rugy on The John Batchelor Show - Infrastructure and Paid Leave (Part 1)
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Veronique de Rugy on The John Batchelor Show - Student Loan Debt
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Weifeng Zhong on The Lars Larson Show - Is Biden Soft on China?
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Veronique de Rugy on The Drew Mariani Show - Biden's Cronyist Spending Spree
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Veronique de Rugy on Marketplace - The American Families Plan
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Michael Farren on Wisconsin Public Radio - Foxconn Backs Out
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Veronique de Rugy on The John Batchelor Show - Infrastructure Corporate Welfare
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Veronique de Rugy on Marketplace - Infrastructure
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Robert Krol on The Lars Larson Show - Biden's Infrastructure Plan
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Veronique de Rugy on The John Batchelor Show - Wealth Taxes and COVID Bailouts
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Veronique de Rugy on The Ben Shapiro Show - Biden's COVID Bailout
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Veronique de Rugy on The Ross Kaminsky Show - Biden's COVID Relief Bill 2
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Veronique de Rugy on The John Batchelor Show - Biden's COIVD Relief Bill
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Veronique de Rugy on The John Batchelor Show - Biden's Buy American Plan
Latest Work in Government Spending
- | Academic & Student Programs Academic & Student Programs
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Comment on the Implementation of Country-by-Country Reporting by the Internal Revenue Service
Before the Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Fundamental Spending Reform: The Solution to the Debt Ceiling Debate
Testimony before the House Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Modernizing the SSDI Eligibility Criteria: Trends in Demographics and Labor Markets Affecting Workers in the “Grid”
- | 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
First Principles of Congressional Budgeting
Testimony before the House Committee on the Budget
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
The Export-Import Bank: Winners and Losers of Government-Granted Privilege
Testimony before the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the US Senate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Subsidies Are the Problem, Not the Solution, for Innovation in Energy
Testimony before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Subcommittee on Energy
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
The High and Hidden Cost of Medicaid Expansion for Kansas
Testimony before the Kansas House Standing Committee on Health and Human Services

- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Establishment of the Multi-State Plan Program for the Affordable Insurance Exchanges
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Establishing a Minimum Wage for Contractors
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Constitutional Solutions to Our Escalating National Debt: Examining Balanced Budget Amendments
Testimony Before the House Committee on the Judiciary
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Testimony on the US Export-Import Bank
Testimony Before the House Committee on Financial Services
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Dreams Deferred: Young Workers and Recent Graduates in the US Economy
Testimony Before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Policy
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Addressing the Real 'Retirement Crisis' Through Sustainable Social Security Reform
Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Draft Supporting Materials for the Science Advisory Board Panel on the Role of Economy-Wide Modeling in US EPA Analysis of Air Regulations
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Opportunity, Mobility, and Inequality in Today’s Economy
Testimony Before the Senate Budget Committee
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Why Government Institutions Fail to Deliver on Their Promises: The Public Choice Explanation
Testimony Before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Regulation, Growth, and Labor Market Recovery
Testimony before the House Committee on the Judiciary
- | 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
Latest Work in Government Spending
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Who Will Bear the Cost of Biden’s Student Debt Giveaway? | The National Interest
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Taking From the Working Class and Giving to the Laptop Class | Creators
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Republicrats and the Overwhelming Congressional Need to Spend | The John Batchelor Show
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Dwindling Difference Between our Two Parties on Spending | Creators
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
With Spending and Inflation, It's More of the Same | Creators
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Biden's Budget Deficit Victory Lap Is Unearned and Unjustified | Creators
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The IRS Doesn’t Need More Workers, It Needs Less Work | The Courier-Times
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Will More Defense Spending Translate to Better Security? | Creators
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Re: We Can’t Afford a $1 Trillion Defense Budget | National Review's "The Corner"
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Inflating the Costs of Government’s Fiscal Irresponsibility | Creators
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Government Isn't Required to Build Back Better | Creators
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Budget Boost Over a Fiscal Cliff: States Surf a Federal Windfall | Washington Examiner
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Pouring Fuel on the Spending Fire | Creators
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
For Some Politicians, Enough Spending Will Never Be Enough
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Cost of the Biden Plan: A New Estimate
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Spending Gluttony Is Washington's Deadly Sin
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Government Planning and Spending Won’t Replicate Silicon Valley | Discourse
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The IRS Has Become the Internal Redistribution Service
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Doing Less with More: FDA's Food Budget Ask
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary