 | Balanced Budgets and American Politics Subjects: Budget -- United States -- History; Budget deficits -- United States -- History; Deficit financing -- United States -- History; United States -- Politics and government; A topical issue but hardly a new one, the concern for balancing the federal budget has been a perennial source of conflict in American political life. In Balanced Budgets and American Politics , James Savage explores the causes and development of the nation's preoccupation with this issue. Savage argues that the American fascination with the idea of balancing the federal budget is deeply rooted and reflects more than a contemporary concern about interest rates, inflation, or even the outcome of recent budget battles. His analysis demonstrates the considerable influence that the principle budget balancing has had on politics and public policy from 1690 through Ronald Reagan's first term as president. James Savage is Senior Federal Relations Analyst for the President of the University of California. He won the American Political Science Association's Harold D. Lasswell Award for an earlier version of this book. |
