Marc Robinson Blog

Why Government Will Get Bigger

- April 25, 2020August 3, 2020 - Marc Robinson comment

Government spending has dramatically increased everywhere in response to the coronavirus pandemic and the savage recession which it has triggered. In the wake of this, the debate about the size of the state has gained…

Fiscal policy

Debt, not Net Worth, is what matters

- May 17, 2021June 7, 2021 - Marc Robinson comment

With government debt levels now at exceptionally high levels, many economists and policymakers are reflecting deeply on the challenge of how debt can be reduced to fiscally sustainable levels over the longer term. A few…

PFM

Strengthening New Spending Decision-Making

- May 4, 2021May 5, 2021 - Marc Robinson comment

Disciplined decision-making about new spending is crucial to good budgeting. Yet it is something which is absent, or weak, in many countries. This is particularly true in developing countries, but is by no means confined…

Fiscal policy / PFM

Spending Review is Back

- April 19, 2021April 10, 2021 - Marc Robinson comment

Governments will in the coming years need spending review more than ever before. Given the big surge in new spending which is currently underway, this might seem a strange statement. Spending review is, after all,…

PFM

Accrual Budgeting: Think Carefully Before Jumping

- April 2, 2021April 2, 2021 - Marc Robinson 2 Comments

[Warning: this is a technical blogpiece for public financial management specialists] Is moving to a accrual budgeting a good idea? This is a question I am asked from time to time. It is a controversial…

Government Expenditure

“Bigger Government” in FT’s Best Economics Books of…

- November 23, 2020November 23, 2020 - Marc Robinson comment

The Financial Times has listed "Bigger Government" as one of the best economics books of 2020. The FT's chief economics commentator, Martin Wolf, writes that the book is "quantitative, meticulous and sobering". Read the review…

Fiscal policy / Government Expenditure / Health Care

Bigger Government: Interview on ABC Radio National

- November 1, 2020November 1, 2020 - Marc Robinson comment

My interview on Australian ABC Radio National's program "The Money" (Oct 29) on Bigger Government is now available on YouTube.

Health Care

Health Care: What’s at Stake in the Presidential…

- October 27, 2020October 27, 2020 - Marc Robinson comment

Of all of the issues facing Americans in next Tuesday’s presidential election, healthcare is one of the biggest. Healthcare is a huge financial burden on Americans. The bad news is that the burden is set…

Fiscal policy / Government Expenditure

The Future US Debt Crisis

- October 25, 2020October 27, 2020 - Marc Robinson 1 Comment

Faced with the pandemic, big deficits and increased debt are not only inevitable, but desirable – on a strictly temporary basis. This is something on which nearly all economists agree. But this does not mean…

couple sitting side by side near panel radiator

Government Expenditure / Welfare

Long-Term Care Spending Will Grow Greatly

- August 6, 2020July 27, 2020 - Marc Robinson comment

Although it is not the main driver of rising health expenditure, population aging will be a significant source of pressure on government budgets in other areas. Age pensions will, in some countries, be part of…

Government Expenditure / Health Care / Uncategorized

Population Aging & Health Spending

- July 30, 2020July 27, 2020 - Marc Robinson comment

There is a widespread notion that demographic aging will be the most important single factor driving health expenditure up over coming decades – or that, at a minimum, its impact on spending will be as…