State Government Finances: World War II to the Current Crises

This article examines the current state budget crises from a historical perspective. The role of major expenditures and revenue sources in the context of the current slowdown and how reliance on various revenue sources has changed since World War II are addressed. Tax revenue variability over the business cycles and the use of nontraditional revenue sources, such as state lotteries and casino gaming, are also discussed. The article further comments on the role of fiscal institutions, such as tax and expenditure limitation laws, rainy day funds, and balanced budget rules, in state budgeting and finance.