FISCAL BLOG

The President’s budget for fiscal year 2022 calls for a large increase in nondefense discretionary spending next year as well as substantial spending for infrastructure and social programs over the upcoming decade.

The unprecedented size of the economic disruption, however, put the safety net to the test, revealing weaknesses that often prevented support from reaching some of the neediest families in a timely manner.

Climate change and its effects already impose a cost on the American economy and the federal budget — and looking ahead, the impact could be even more significant.

The way in which Americans have been spending their stimulus checks has differed across each round of payments.

Let’s take a closer look at the key components of the Senate Republican infrastructure proposal, highlighting some of the differences between it and the American Jobs Plan in terms of scope and potential pay-fors.

While investing in a college education has undeniable, lifelong economic benefits, excessive levels of student debt can impose financial burdens on borrowers.

Economists don’t always agree — but there is a wide consensus developing that the United States is in store for rapid economic growth.

The continued economic recovery and reopening of businesses has been fueled by COVID relief programs and an accelerating vaccination effort.

Despite the consensus among economists that some amount of inflation is likely to occur in the near term, their level of concern varies.

Generally, states with larger populations have been receiving more federal dollars from COVID-19 relief programs as such states typically have more unemployed persons, small businesses, and healthcare providers to which that relief has been targeted.