Once the recession hit, nearly every state encountered significant a budget gap. Though falling revenue and rising costs were the proximate cause of these shortfalls, the fiscal problems were years in the making. They were the result of decades of unsustainable spending growth. Today on the podcast we discuss the question: What is it that makes a state more or less likely to face a budget gap?

Joining us to discuss his recent research on state budgets and spending is Dr. Matthew Mitchell. Mitchell is a research fellow with the State and Local Policy Project at the Mercatus Center. His research focuses on spending and budget issues, particularly the ways in which government policy is developed and how it impacts various measure of well-being. Mitchell received his Ph.D. in Economics from George Mason University and a B.A. in political science and B.S. in economics from Arizona State University.