This paper offers unique rankings of the extent to which fiscal structures of U.S. states contribute to economic growth. The rankings are novel in two key respects: They are well grounded in established growth theory, in which the effect of taxes depends both on the level of taxes and on the composition of expenditures; and they are derived from…

The General Accounting Office assessed the likely impact of replacing personal income with the Representative Tax System (RTS) on the distribution of federal aid among the states in three formula-based programs. These programs were the General Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972, known as the Revenue Sharing program; Title XIX of the Social Security…

Background information and an analysis of issues involved in the funding of a network of new regional educational laboratories are presented. The new laboratories are to be established through a 1984 competition administered by the National Institute of Education (NIE). The information is designed to assist the Study Group on Regional Laboratories…

Divides the history of educational federalism into three eras: (1) Presidential Federalism (from the Constitution's enactment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) in 1958); (2) Congressional Federalism (from ESEA until Reagan's election); and (3) Gubernatorial Federalism (the 1980's). Federal aid to education has been reduced,…

Patterns of spending federal aid have shifted since Chapter 2 of the 1981 Education Consolidation and Improvement Act combined 29 existing programs into one block grant and placed the responsibility for allocating the funds with the states and local districts. Since 1982-83 Chapter 2 appropriations were 14.4 percent below funding for the…

This report consolidates the information from a series of reports by the General Accounting Office (GAO) on states' fiscal, programmatic, and managerial responses to the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981. Section 1 describes the major issues related to block grant implementation: (1) fiscal strategies adopted by states in response to…

Participants in a symposium on education in rural New York analyzed strengths and weaknesses and made policy suggestions relating to three broad goals: (1) create parity of access to lifelong educational and cultural opportunities for residents and institutions in rural areas; (2) enhance the quality of lifelong educational and cultural…

Participants in a symposium on economic development in rural New York State analyzed existing strengths and weaknesses of the state's rural areas and made policy suggestions relating to three broad goals: (1) ease government constraints on rural businesses in order to encourage growth and development; (2) build on and strengthen the positive…

Potential revenue prospects for the public schools in the Midwest basically depend on the future outlook for the midwestern economy as a whole. Accordingly, a comprehensive analysis is undertaken of the midwestern economy and tax base, and then of trends in educational spending. Topics include: (1) economic growth and taxation systems; (2)…