Journal of Economic Perspectives
ISSN 0895-3309 (Print) | ISSN 1944-7965 (Online)
Distinguished Lecture on Economics in Government: Strengthening the Economy by Rethinking the Role of Federal and State Governments
Journal of Economic Perspectives
vol. 5,
no. 2, Spring 1991
(pp. 3–14)
(Complimentary)
Abstract
This lecture brings together two subjects that are not often discussed together: national economic policy and the structure of American federalism. My thesis is that the policies needed to improve the health of the U.S. economy over the next decade or two require a new look at the division of responsibilities between the federal government and the states. In particular, I will argue that the states should have much clearer responsibility for most kinds of public investment, especially for improving the skills of the labor force and upgrading public infrastructure. The federal government should concentrate on a different set of missions, including interaction with the rest of the world, strengthening social insurance, and contributing to national saving by running a surplus in the unified federal budget.Citation
Rivlin, Alice M. 1991. "Distinguished Lecture on Economics in Government: Strengthening the Economy by Rethinking the Role of Federal and State Governments." Journal of Economic Perspectives, 5 (2): 3–14. DOI: 10.1257/jep.5.2.3JEL Classification
- H11 Structure, Scope, and Performance of Government
- H77 Intergovernmental Relations; Federalism; Secession
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