The (Il)logics of Federal Budgeting, and Why Crisis Must Come

The U.S. federal budgeting system faces severe challenges in coming years. Deficits are being recorded at levels and with regularity not seen in prior periods. This article suggests that such problems reflect the uncomfortable mix of logics informing budgetary and political institutions—that is, the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Public administration review 2011-05, Vol.71 (3), p.345-348
Main Author: Andrews, Matt
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ambiguity
Budget deficit
Budget deficits
Budget reform
Budget, Government
Budgets
Economic competition
Economic crisis
Federal budget deficit
Federal Government
Financial crisis
Government
Government crises
Government spending
Logic
Political Institutions
Public budgeting
Reforms
Separation of powers
Services
Tax policy
Taxation
The Changing Concept of a Federal Executive Budget: A Senior— Junior Exchange
U.S.A
United States
United States federal budget
United States of America
Zero based budgeting
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Summary:The U.S. federal budgeting system faces severe challenges in coming years. Deficits are being recorded at levels and with regularity not seen in prior periods. This article suggests that such problems reflect the uncomfortable mix of logics informing budgetary and political institutions—that is, the rules of the game. Logics make it appropriate to expect that government be limited in its tax demands but simultaneously responsive in providing expensive services necessary for the achievement of the American dream, for example. Crisis is needed to allow the emergence of institutional forms that mediate between these conflicting logics.
ISSN:0033-3352
1540-6210
DOI:10.1111/j.1540-6210.2011.02352.x