Budgets and Fiscal Policy

Our work in selected areas of government spending and budgets -- through the lenses of efficiency, transparency, and accountability.

July 17, 2014

The Big Divorce

For decades a prominent and influential measure of government inflation mirrored general consumer inflation.  Then something happened.  In this article from our Nov-Dec 2013 edition of Fiscal Focus, we take a closer look at the split and why it matters for Minnesota.

June 19, 2013

The Progressives' Tax Policy Paradox

From our May-June 2013 edition of Fiscal Focus.  The 2013 legislative session was dominated by discussion about the progressivity of Minnesota's tax system.  In this From the Director column, we argue that new revenues will have to include more regressive forms of taxation.…

April 15, 2013

Issue Brief: Minnesota's Troubled Price of Government

Since the early 1990’s, the Minnesota Price of Government (POG) has been calculated to measure and track state and local government’s claim on Minnesota income.  However, since its inception, the composition of Minnesota Personal Income – a foundation of the price of government calculation – has…