Lexington Books
Pages: 258
•
Trim: 6¼ x 9⅜
978-1-4985-5353-7 • Hardback • September 2017 • $123.00 • (£95.00)
978-1-4985-5354-4 • eBook • September 2017 • $116.50 • (£90.00)
John D. Merrifield is professor of economics at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Barry W. Poulson is professor emeritus of economics at the University of Colorado.
List of Figures
List of Tables
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1: Theoretical Foundations for America’s Fiscal Constitution
Chapter 2: A New Era of Fiscal Rules
Chapter 3: Fiscal Rules in Euroland Revisited
Chapter 4: Abandoning America’s Fiscal Constitution
Chapter 5: A Nation Under-Water
Chapter 6: Fiscal Rules in America: A Critique
Chapter 7: New Fiscal Rules for America
Chapter 8: Our Fiscal Future: A Road to Serfdom or Freedom?
Chapter 9: A Roadmap to Restore America’s Fiscal Constitution
Chapter 10: Reopening the Constitutional Road to a Balanced Budget Amendment
Appendix A
Appendix B
References
About the Authors
Merrifield and Poulson’s message is clear, timely, and on point: well-chosen fiscal rules that constrain and impose discipline on democratic government budget policies are a sine qua non of enduring prosperity and social well-being.
— Marvin Phaup, George Mason University
Merrifield and Poulson clearly show the fiscal challenges that lie ahead for the United States government, and drawing from experience—both good and bad—from Switzerland and other European countries, suggest a set of fiscal rules to limit deficit spending. Their ideas are both sensible and politically palatable. They provide a superb blueprint for fiscal reform.
— Randall G. Holcombe, Florida State University
The debt and growing obligations of the American welfare state are unsustainable and pose huge burdens on our children and grandchildren. Merrifield and Poulson carefully show how America can resolve our most pressing domestic problem in a realistic fashion. Essential reading for those seeking public policy solutions to the debt crisis.
— Richard Vedder, Ohio University