Government Reform

Research

Government Streamlining Commissions: A Methodology for Measuring Effectiveness Emily Washington, Carmine Scavo \| Oct 15, 2012 This paper proposes a methodology for evaluating the operation and success of state government streamlining commissions. These commissions—typically appointed by governors or state legislatures—became increasingly popular in the last decade as a way to identify potential savings in state government by reducing redundancies and increasing efficiencies in state spending. Such changes contribute to creating a more business-friendly environment in states resulting in increased state competitiveness in economic development.	The Political Economy of Medicaid Reform Scott Beaulier, Brandon Pizzola \| Feb 13, 2012 This paper looks at the recent growth in Medicaid spending and attempts to explain Medicaid reform successes and failures by focusing on five reform experiences in Rhode Island, Washington, Florida, Idaho, and Tennessee.
The Fiscal Health of the States Jeffrey Miron, Robert Sarvis \| Feb 13, 2012 This paper examines the fiscal health of the states, focusing on two worrisome characteristics: an understatement of unfunded pension liabilities and ever-increasing expenditures, driven primarily by health care costs.	Pick Your Poison: Do Politicians Regulate When They Can't Spend? Noel D. Johnson, Matthew Mitchell, Steven Yamarik \| Jun 28, 2011 In this paper, the authors investigate whether laws restricting fiscal policies across U.S. states lead politicians to regulate more instead.
Public Sector Unionism: A Review Eileen Norcross \| May 18, 2011 This paper by Eileen Norcross reviews the origins, goals, and fiscal effects of public sector unionism.	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.

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Research Summaries & Toolkits

State Government Streamlining Commissions: Ten Factors for Success

Maurice P. McTigue, Emily Washington, Daniel M. Rothschild | Dec 20, 2011

This paper draws on the experiences of government streamlining commissions in Louisiana and Virginia to craft recommendations for designing effective commissions.

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.	New Jersey Corrupt? Ha, Ha By David M. Primo, Paul Sherman \| Apr 03, 2012 It isn't asking too much of good-government groups to come forward with evidence that their preferred policies actually reduce corruption. On that score, the State Integrity Investigation falls far short of the mark.

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Charts

Total State Expenditures by Funding Source

As this chart by Mercatus Research Fellow Matthew Mitchell demonstrates, over time, states have increasingly come to rely less on general fund sources and more on federal sources, dedicated sources, and borrowed sources.

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

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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Government Streamlining Commissions: A Methodology for Measuring Effectiveness Emily Washington, Carmine Scavo \| Oct 15, 2012 This paper proposes a methodology for evaluating the operation and success of state government streamlining commissions. These commissions—typically appointed by governors or state legislatures—became increasingly popular in the last decade as a way to identify potential savings in state government by reducing redundancies and increasing efficiencies in state spending. Such changes contribute to creating a more business-friendly environment in states resulting in increased state competitiveness in economic development.	The Political Economy of Medicaid Reform Scott Beaulier, Brandon Pizzola \| Feb 13, 2012 This paper looks at the recent growth in Medicaid spending and attempts to explain Medicaid reform successes and failures by focusing on five reform experiences in Rhode Island, Washington, Florida, Idaho, and Tennessee.
The Fiscal Health of the States Jeffrey Miron, Robert Sarvis \| Feb 13, 2012 This paper examines the fiscal health of the states, focusing on two worrisome characteristics: an understatement of unfunded pension liabilities and ever-increasing expenditures, driven primarily by health care costs.	Pick Your Poison: Do Politicians Regulate When They Can't Spend? Noel D. Johnson, Matthew Mitchell, Steven Yamarik \| Jun 28, 2011 In this paper, the authors investigate whether laws restricting fiscal policies across U.S. states lead politicians to regulate more instead.
Public Sector Unionism: A Review Eileen Norcross \| May 18, 2011 This paper by Eileen Norcross reviews the origins, goals, and fiscal effects of public sector unionism.	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.

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.	New Jersey Corrupt? Ha, Ha By David M. Primo, Paul Sherman \| Apr 03, 2012 It isn't asking too much of good-government groups to come forward with evidence that their preferred policies actually reduce corruption. On that score, the State Integrity Investigation falls far short of the mark.

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Government Reform