Government spending or government expenditure is classified by economists into three main types.^[1] Government purchases of goods and services for current use are classed as government consumption. Government purchases of goods and services intended to create future benefits, such as infrastructure investment or research spending, are classed as government investment. Government expenditures that are not purchases of goods and services, and instead just represent transfers of money, such as social security payments, are called transfer payments. Government spending can be financed by seigniorage, taxes, or government borrowing.

The first two types of government spending, namely government consumption and government investment, together constitute one of the major components of gross domestic product.

John Maynard Keynes was one of the first economists to advocate government deficit spending as part of the fiscal policy response to an economic contraction. In Keynesian economics, increased government spending is thought to raise aggregate demand and increase consumption.

European Union

United States of America

Government spending in the United States of America occurs at several levels of government, including primarily federal, state, and local governments. The United States Census Bureau publishes an overview of government spending every year in the Statistical Abstract of the United States^[2]

In the most recent year for which actual spending for all levels of government has been reported, overall government spending for all levels of government in the United States of America was as follows:

Government spending in the United States for FY 2006 ($ billion)

Government spending expressed as a percent of Gross Domestic Product is based on a total of $13,015.5 billion for calendar year 2006 reported by the Bureau of Economic Analysis^[4].

Federal Spending

Chart showing how the United States Congress spends the federal tax revenue.^[5] –31 January 2008

There are two types of government spending ? discretionary and mandatory. Discretionary spending, which accounts for roughly one-third of all Federal spending, includes money for things like the Army, FBI, the Coast Guard, and highway projects. Congress explicitly determines how much to spend (or not spend) on these programs on an annual basis. Mandatory spending accounts for two-thirds of all government spending. This kind of spending is authorized by permanent laws. It includes "entitlements" like Social Security, Medicare, and Food Stamps ? programs through which individuals receive benefits based on their age, income, or other criteria. Spending levels in these areas are dictated by the number of people who sign up for these benefits, rather than by Congress.

State and Local Spending

The United States Census Bureau conducts a census of State and Local Government Finances every five years and updates the census every year. The latest fiscal year reported by the Census Bureau is 2006.

History

Historical government spending in the United States from 1902 to 2010 (percent GDP)

The United States Census Bureau publishes historical data series on government spending in the United States in its Statistical Abstract of the United States^[6] and in its special release of historical statistics in 1976 at the time of the US Bicentennial.^[7]

Over the last century starting overall government spending in the United States has increased substantially from about seven percent of GDP in 1902 to about 35 percent of GDP in 2010. Major spikes in spending occurred in World War I and World War II.

Historical government spending by major function in the United States from 1902 to 2010 (percent GDP)

When broken down by major function, the history of government spending as a percent of GDP shows a slow and consistent increase in education spending; it shows the spikes in defense spending during World War I and World War II, and the sustained high level maintained during the Cold War. Spending on welfare shows a clear takeoff during the Great Depression and a modest decline following reform in 1996. Spending on pensions (primarily Social Security) begins to show up in the 1950s. Health care spending takes off after the birth of Medicare and Medicaid in the 1960s and shows sustained growth ever since.

Spending Patterns

Divided vs. United Government

In an interview with Charlie Rose, Milton Friedman noted that government spending declines fastest in the United States when Democrats control the executive branch while Republicans control the legislature.

Referencing accounts from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the voting record, it can be seen that spending typically declines as a percentage of GDP when no party controls both the executive and legislative branches.

See also

• Government operations
• Public finance
• Government budget
• Fiscal policy
• Tax

References

• CBO's Current Budget Projections, Congressional Budget Office, March 2, 2007.

External links

• The Concise Encyclopedia of Economics (CEE)

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