Fiscal Federalism

Research

The Value Added Tax: Impacts on Florida Randall G. Holcombe, Christopher J. Boudreaux \| Feb 03, 2011 What implications would a federal Value Added Tax have on individual states? This Mercatus on Policy looks at the impact it would have on Florida.	Eleven Ideas for State Legislatures in 2011 Daniel M. Rothschild \| Jan 18, 2011 This Mercatus on Policy paper shares eleven bold reform ideas that could help states balance their 2012 budgets and avoid boom-and-bust budgeting cycles in the future.
The Death of Fiscal Federalism Veronique de Rugy, Stefanie Haeffele-Balch \| Jun 02, 2010 In May 2009, the federal government forced South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford to take his state's share of federal stimulus funds and spend the money on new programs rather than on paying down debt.	Seven Key Aspects of Governing During Crisis Maurice P. McTigue, Daniel M. Rothschild \| May 18, 2010 This paper presents a toolkit of seven ideas and procedures for state policy makers to evaluate budget shortfalls and find opportunities for reform. Drawing on domestic and international experiences,…

Testimony & Comments

State and Municipal Debt: The Coming Crisis?

Eileen Norcross | Feb 09, 2011

Eileen Norcross testified before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on the looming municipal debt crisis.

Expert Commentary

Californians Stifled By Lack of Freedoms San Diego Union-Tribune By William Ruger, Jason Sorens \| Apr 08, 2013 If you’re finding it harder and harder to live in California, you’re not alone.	Freedom and Prosperity: Some Comparative Historical Reflections on State Policies and Performance Pileus By Jason Sorens \| Apr 08, 2013 States like California and New York are living off the accumulated capital of past economic freedom. Now that the political tide has turned decisively against economic freedom in those states, they are shedding people and jobs and growing more slowly than the rest of the country. Places like the Dakotas, Carolinas, Oklahoma, and Texas, which have reversed their anti-market policies of the past, represent America’s dynamic economic future.
Study of States Shows Freedom Works Best Washington Examiner By Veronique de Rugy \| Apr 05, 2013 People follow jobs, and jobs follow freedom. That's one of the main results from the third and much improved edition of the Mercatus Center's "Freedom in the Fifty States: Index of Personal and Economic Freedom."	States Limiting Freedom Pushes People Out USA Today By William Ruger, Jason Sorens \| Mar 28, 2013 Google's auto-complete feature has long been a source of amusement, but as a recent feature on BuzzFeed makes clear, it also says a lot about what it's like to live and work in different states in the country.
Motor City Can’t Drive Itself Anymore U.S. News and World Report By Emily Washington \| Mar 05, 2013 Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder recently announced that he would assign an emergency financial manager to Detroit, stating that the city cannot feasibly pay back its $14 billion in debt and long-term liabilities. The governor asserted that local policymakers have failed to provide basic services that Michigan municipalities are required to provide their residents.	Virginia’s Economy Benefits From Fiscal Discipline By Maurice P. McTigue \| Jul 20, 2011

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Charts

Aggregate State Spending During the Recession

This chart by Mercatus Research Fellow Matthew Mitchell demonstrates that state spending has increased over the last two years.

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Experts

Eileen Norcross

Eileen Norcross is a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Her primary research interests include fiscal federalism and institutions, state and local governments, and economic development.

Emily Washington

Emily Washington is a Policy Research Manager for the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. She manages the Spending and Budget Initiative and State and Local Policy Project portfolios.

Videos

Veronique de Rugy and Will Ruger Discuss Freedom in the 50 States on Stossel

Veronique de Rugy, William Ruger | May 03, 2013

Freedom in the 50 States 2013

William Ruger, Jason Sorens | March 28, 2013

Podcasts

Jason Sorens Discusses Freedom in Virginia on Virginia Public Radio

Jason Sorens | April 23, 2013

Jason Sorens Discusses Freedom in Virginia on Virginia Public Radio based on the 2013 edition of Freedom in the 50 States.

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Recent Events

More Media Clippings

The Value Added Tax: Impacts on Florida Randall G. Holcombe, Christopher J. Boudreaux \| Feb 03, 2011 What implications would a federal Value Added Tax have on individual states? This Mercatus on Policy looks at the impact it would have on Florida.	Eleven Ideas for State Legislatures in 2011 Daniel M. Rothschild \| Jan 18, 2011 This Mercatus on Policy paper shares eleven bold reform ideas that could help states balance their 2012 budgets and avoid boom-and-bust budgeting cycles in the future.
The Death of Fiscal Federalism Veronique de Rugy, Stefanie Haeffele-Balch \| Jun 02, 2010 In May 2009, the federal government forced South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford to take his state's share of federal stimulus funds and spend the money on new programs rather than on paying down debt.	Seven Key Aspects of Governing During Crisis Maurice P. McTigue, Daniel M. Rothschild \| May 18, 2010 This paper presents a toolkit of seven ideas and procedures for state policy makers to evaluate budget shortfalls and find opportunities for reform. Drawing on domestic and international experiences,…

Californians Stifled By Lack of Freedoms San Diego Union-Tribune By William Ruger, Jason Sorens \| Apr 08, 2013 If you’re finding it harder and harder to live in California, you’re not alone.	Freedom and Prosperity: Some Comparative Historical Reflections on State Policies and Performance Pileus By Jason Sorens \| Apr 08, 2013 States like California and New York are living off the accumulated capital of past economic freedom. Now that the political tide has turned decisively against economic freedom in those states, they are shedding people and jobs and growing more slowly than the rest of the country. Places like the Dakotas, Carolinas, Oklahoma, and Texas, which have reversed their anti-market policies of the past, represent America’s dynamic economic future.
Study of States Shows Freedom Works Best Washington Examiner By Veronique de Rugy \| Apr 05, 2013 People follow jobs, and jobs follow freedom. That's one of the main results from the third and much improved edition of the Mercatus Center's "Freedom in the Fifty States: Index of Personal and Economic Freedom."	States Limiting Freedom Pushes People Out USA Today By William Ruger, Jason Sorens \| Mar 28, 2013 Google's auto-complete feature has long been a source of amusement, but as a recent feature on BuzzFeed makes clear, it also says a lot about what it's like to live and work in different states in the country.
Motor City Can’t Drive Itself Anymore U.S. News and World Report By Emily Washington \| Mar 05, 2013 Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder recently announced that he would assign an emergency financial manager to Detroit, stating that the city cannot feasibly pay back its $14 billion in debt and long-term liabilities. The governor asserted that local policymakers have failed to provide basic services that Michigan municipalities are required to provide their residents.	Virginia’s Economy Benefits From Fiscal Discipline By Maurice P. McTigue \| Jul 20, 2011

Mercatus Center

Fiscal Federalism