Austerity sounds like it should be about governments cutting costs and spending less. But it’s more about who controls ever-expanding public spending – and who doesn’t.
Articles on State budgets
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Every gun and bullet sold in the U.S. generates excise taxes to support conservation. But Americans are buying guns now for different reasons than in the past – and increasingly, not for hunting.
The federal government sent a lot of money to states to help with an anticipated COVID-related economic downturn. Turns out, states did not need that much money – but they may spend it anyway.
Charging for rezoning is a move other states should follow, as are land taxes. Stamp duty hikes, not so much.
The Mega Millions lotto pot for Jan. 15 is the second largest it’s ever been. Taxes on the lotto go to state governments, but often the money isn’t spent in quite the way it’s supposed to be.
Layoffs and pay freezes next year would hurt in-class instruction and student progress when it’s most needed.
The pandemic recession has reduced US energy demand, roiling budgets in states that are major fossil fuel producers. But politics and culture can impede efforts to look beyond oil, gas and coal.
Our states have much more capacity than they are using.
The pandemic isn’t just a health disaster. It’s a disaster for cities and states, where the money to run government that normally comes in every year has evaporated. Congress may or may not help.
Top contributors
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Professor of Public Policy (retired), University of Virginia
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Program Director, Housing and Economic Security, Grattan Institute
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Professor of the Practice of Data Science, Washington University in St. Louis
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Associate, Grattan Institute
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Assistant Professor of Geography, Texas A&M University
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Chief executive officer, Grattan Institute
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Professor of Public Policy and Director of the Payne Institute, Colorado School of Mines
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Non-resident Fellow, Payne Institute of Public Policy, Colorado School of Mines
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Assistant Professor of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University
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Scholar in Residence, University of Wyoming
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Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, Wayne State University
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Lecturer in International Relations, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington