Fiscal policy and fickle fortunes: what’s luck got to do with it?

Abstract

The author contends that luck has played a major role in the fiscal fortunes of the 1990s. He (along with many others) is therefore concerned about the unquestioned presumption that projected budget surpluses are as good as achieved. Such a presumption, he says, is a shaky foundation from which to launch major new budget initiatives.Fiscal policy ; Budget