ASSIGNMENT: PUBLIC BUDGETING & FINANCE

General Notes: It is to your advantage to draw upon as much of your course material as possible in presenting your answers. I will evaluate the quality of your argument, analysis, organization, presentation, and writing in grading these examinations. You are strongly urged to use examples and provide details when answering questions. Examples/details may come from course materials, class discussion, other documented sources, and your own experience. Be very thorough and express your supportive/critical opinion along with the facts, particularly when called for.

You may use any resources to respond to these essay questions, other than your classmates. If you do use any resources other than your own head, be sure to provide a citation as well as a reference list. Failure to do so is plagiarizing. I do not care what reference style you use, but be consistent. Your work must be typed and double-spaced. Please number your pages and put the number of the question by your response.

A. Micro Essays

Define and identify the significance to public budgeting & finance of five out of the six terms/concepts/cases below in about 1/2 to 1 page each. [1 point each; 5 total]

1. executive budget system                   4. revenue bond
2. incrementalism                                  5. rational choice model of decision making
3. inter-generational equity                    6. Tax Reform Act of 1986

B. Major Integrative EssaysAnswer two of the following questions with as much detail as you can, using as many examples as you can.

7. Compare and contrast line-item, performance, program, and zero-base budgets in terms of purpose, scope, ease of preparation, actual usage, information provided, and the skills necessary to prepare them. While most budget scholars extol the virtues of clearly-stated, well-justified, well-presented, performance-based budgets, most practitioners continue to rely upon older, object-of-expenditure (line-item) formats. Why do you think that this is so? What is lost from this inattention to performance-based criteria? What specific budgetary practices deserve the most attention and what specifications might be taken to increase practitioner commitment to such under-utilized practices as performance-based budgeting? What criteria do you think should be the most important for the evaluation of public/non-profit budgets? Why?

8. (Part A) What factors led (in Wildavsky's terms) to the Collapse of Budgetary Consensus that occurred in the 1970s? Define his consensus, and then compare and contrast the Era of Classical Budgeting with U.S. national budgeting under the 1974 Budget and Impoundment Control Act in giving your answer. How successful was the 1974 Act in achieving its goals Why? (Part B) What factors led (in Wildavsky's terms) to the Budgetary Dissensus that occurred in the 1980s? Define Wildavsky'sdissensus, and then compare and contrast the 1970s and 1980s in national budgeting in giving your answer. How successful was the 1985 GRH Act in achieving its goals? Why?

9. Compare and contrast the fiscal health of the U.S. with that of at least one other nation over time. Give your estimation of the economic outlook/prospects for each.