Includes bibliographical references (p. 446-449) and index.

Preface -- The law and politics of fiscal policy -- Introduction -- The congressional budget process / William Dauster -- Budget gimmicks / Cheryl Block -- Transparency in the U.S. budget process / Elizabeth Garrett and Adrian Vermeule -- European experiences with fiscal rules and institutions / Jurgen von Hagen Bibliography -- Understanding federal deficits and public debt -- Introduction -- Economic perspectives on federal deficits and debt / Michael Boskin -- Counting the ways: the structure of federal spending / Howell Jackson -- Starving the beast: the psychology of budget deficits / Jonathan Baron and Edward J. McCaffery -- Bibliography -- Budgeting and fiscal constraints at the state level -- Introduction -- Budgetary arrangements in the 50 states, in search of model practices / Juliet Musso, Elizabeth Graddy and Jennifer Grizard -- The calculus of constraint: a critical review of state fiscal institutions / Tracy Gordon -- When does the ballot box limit the budget? Politics and spending limits in California, Colorado, Utah, and Washington / Thad Kousser, Mathew McCubbins and Kaj Rozga -- Bibliography -- Intergovernmental aspects of budget policy -- Introduction -- Dysfunctional or optimal institutions?: state debt limitations, the structure of state and local governments, and the finance of American infrastructure / Barry Weingast and John Wallis -- Federal-state budgetary interactions / David Super -- Bibliography -- Judicial powers and budget policy -- Introduction -- New property, entrenchment, and the fiscal constitution / John Harrison -- Courts, constitutions, and public finance: some recent experiences from the states / Richard Briffault -- Bibliography.