The hottest Government spending Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health Politics Topics

The Efficacy and Constitutionality of the Debt Ceiling

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 22 implied HN points • 23 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Constitutional Law Government spending Fiscal policy Political Discourse
  1. The debt ceiling doesn't really help control government spending. Instead of a strict limit, we should look at reviewing and approving spending more carefully.
  2. There's a belief that the Constitution may not allow for default on public debt. So, some argue that the president could ignore the debt ceiling if Congress keeps spending money.
  3. Many experts think that the repeated struggle over the debt ceiling does more harm than good for the economy and suggest it's time to get rid of it altogether.

The Beveridge curve and cultural evolution

America in Crisis • 99 implied HN points • 16 Apr 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Economic Policy Labor Market Inflation Taxation Government spending
  1. Beveridge curves show the relationship between job vacancies and unemployment rates, highlighting changes in the labor market over time.
  2. Economic policies, such as tax laws and deficit spending, can impact factors like wages and inflation, influencing the overall economic environment.
  3. Cultural evolution in business practices is influenced by economic conditions and government policies, shaping the economy and labor market dynamics.

How To Cut $2 Trillion Of Fat From The Federal Budget

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 30 implied HN points • 22 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Federal Budget Government spending Economic Policy Political Commentary
  1. The U.S. government needs to cut $2 trillion from its budget to avoid financial disaster. This is important for maintaining democracy and economic health.
  2. To save this money, we can eliminate wasteful agencies, cut unnecessary spending, and reduce low-priority programs. It’s crucial to make these cuts soon to prevent further debt growth.
  3. The proposed savings can be grouped into three main areas: cutting unnecessary bureaucracies, downsizing defense spending, and reducing entitlement programs. Each area has specific targets for savings.

5 Essays I'm Excited to Write This year

Exasperated Infrastructures • 9 implied HN points • 09 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Infrastructure Public Policy Transportation Government spending Urban planning
  1. The writer plans to explore ways to spend federal transportation money more effectively. They want to understand past spending to improve future projects.
  2. There will be a focus on making air travel better by looking into its economics. The goal is to encourage airlines to adopt practices that benefit travelers and boost profits.
  3. The writer wants to investigate how municipal bonds can fund infrastructure projects. They aim to understand state spending behavior to create more resilient financial systems.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

The True Shape of America's Debt & Deficit "Burdens"

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 261 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Economic Policy Government spending National Debt Political Economy
  1. Debt-to-GDP ratio in the U.S. has fluctuated over the years, with significant changes under different administrations.
  2. The U.S. could manage its debt by matching program spending to taxes in the future, allowing it to gradually diminish.
  3. The current U.S. deficit is a concern as it exceeds the optimal level, posing a risk for the future due to political and economic factors.

The $175.3 Trillion Doomsday Clock Is Ticking – That Is The Estimated Unfunded Social Security And Medicare Liability

OpenTheBooks Substack • 170 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
💰 Finance Government spending Social Security Medicare
  1. The estimated unfunded Social Security and Medicare liability is a staggering $175.3 trillion, which is a major financial crisis threatening the future.
  2. The funding gap for Social Security and Medicare over the next 75 years is projected to be $78.3 trillion, leading to potential options like increased borrowing, higher taxes, or reduced benefits.
  3. The $175.3 trillion gap is a result of a lack of significant reforms in recent decades, with the projection showing significant challenges with Medicare Part B, Social Security, and other programs in the future.

The Fed's Plumbing Dilemma

Concoda • 443 implied HN points • 05 Jul 23
💰 Finance Monetary Policy Government spending Investing Market Dynamics Economy
  1. The Federal Reserve faces challenges as excess liquidity re-enters the banking system.
  2. Investors are pulling money from money market funds to seek higher yields, potentially leading to a speculative spree.
  3. Money market funds are moving liquidity from the Fed's RRP facility to the U.S. government's bank account, impacting the monetary system.

Fifty years of putting off the inevitable

Comment is Freed • 102 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
💰 Finance Government spending Taxation Education
  1. Jeremy Hunt may announce a tax cut that is not financially sustainable and could be misleading.
  2. The UK's tax burden is lower compared to other countries, partly due to lower spending on social programs.
  3. The UK's low tax burden is also a result of reduced spending on working age benefits, uniquely high housing benefit expenditure, and underinvestment in infrastructure.

Federal Agencies Admit To $3 Trillion In Improper Payments Since 2004

OpenTheBooks Substack • 252 implied HN points • 13 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government spending Federal Agencies
  1. Federal agencies have admitted to $3 trillion in improper payments since 2004
  2. The largest offenders are the Departments of Human Services, Treasury, Labor, and Education, along with the Small Business Administration
  3. Government waste is prevalent, with examples including billions in improper payments from various federal agencies

Nyhetsbrev steigan.no 18.12.2024

steigan.no • 5 implied HN points • 18 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy Military Affairs Government spending Political Movements International relations
  1. Norsun, a solar energy company in Norway, has declared bankruptcy, highlighting the intense competition from cheap products made in China. It's a tough reminder of how global markets can impact local businesses.
  2. There are growing concerns about a possible Turkish invasion of Syria, which could escalate military tensions in the region. This situation is developing quickly and may have wider implications for international relations.
  3. The U.S. continues its complicated military strategies in Syria, aiming for regime change under the guise of promoting democracy, which raises questions about the consequences of such interventions.

The US economic revolution is Republican—but should be bipartisan | article

Tumbleweed Words • 7 implied HN points • 24 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government spending Regulation Bipartisanship Political corruption
  1. The US economy is facing serious issues due to high government spending and regulations. If things don't change, the economy could face major problems soon.
  2. There's a lot of waste in government programs that don't get checked properly. This leads to money being spent on unnecessary things instead of building and improving infrastructure.
  3. Regulation and government overspending are hurting states like California. Instead of growth, people are seeing higher taxes, crime, and homelessness.

Kishida May Raise Corporate Taxes, Part II

Japan Economy Watch • 139 implied HN points • 30 Nov 22
🌍 World Politics Tax policy Government spending Defense Public Opinion Economic Analysis
  1. The Kishida administration is considering raising corporate taxes to double defense spending, which could impact pro-entrepreneur tax breaks.
  2. There is uncertainty around how different government entities, like METI and the Prime Minister's Office, will negotiate on tax policies amidst concerns and objectives.
  3. Japanese corporations have a significant surplus in cash and securities, leading to questions about the necessity and use of low taxes and potential changes in government deficits.

Conversation On Japan's Economic Vulnerability

Japan Economy Watch • 119 implied HN points • 08 Jul 22
💰 Finance Economy Consumption Income Savings Government spending
  1. In Japan, household income growth has shifted significantly towards relying on government transfers rather than private sector income, impacting consumer spending.
  2. The consumption share of real GDP in Japan has declined over the years, impacting economic growth and potentially leading to weaker consumption patterns.
  3. Japanese consumers have drastically reduced their saving rates, shifting towards a trend of living hand-to-mouth, which has implications on personal finances and economic stability.

$1 Trillion Per 100 Days: Is This the Year the Debt Bubble Explodes?

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 24 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
💰 Finance Debt Government spending Federal Reserve Economic Growth National Debt
  1. The national debt is growing at an alarming rate, projected to reach $54 trillion within 10 years, with interest payments set to exceed defense spending.
  2. The Federal Reserve's monetary policy is criticized for contributing to unsustainable debt, with 2020 alone seeing over $3 trillion in printing.
  3. Government spending continues to mask weaknesses in the US economy, with debt growth outpacing GDP growth for multiple quarters, driven by reckless deficit spending.

PEI Blues

Critical Mass • 26 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare Government spending Diversity Anti-racism
  1. There is a crisis in medical care in PEI, impacting local communities and the nation, while attention and resources are directed towards new anti-racism initiatives.
  2. Shortage of doctors in PEI, with long wait times for assignment of family doctors, leading to challenges in accessing urgent medical care.
  3. Government focus on anti-racism initiatives may not address essential issues like the shortage of ICU doctors, which are crucial for immediate healthcare needs in the region.

Term time

Model Thinking • 39 implied HN points • 20 Nov 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Analysis Elections Government spending Accountability
  1. Politicians prioritize short-term gains for re-election over long-term investments due to the nature of regular elections.
  2. The optimal rate of investment for politicians is influenced by factors like capital elasticity and depreciation rates.
  3. Increasing political term lengths from 5 to 7 years could potentially boost real incomes significantly over a long timeframe, showing the impact of term lengths on economic outcomes.

A benefit greater yet

Model Thinking • 39 implied HN points • 06 Nov 22
💰 Finance Economics Population Government spending Healthcare Policy Analysis
  1. Optimal population subsidies can differ greatly based on the discount rate assumption, with the model showing notable variations between a 5% and a 7% discount rate.
  2. There's evidence of a non-linear relationship between fertility rates and income, with high-income groups having more children in some cases, impacting population growth predictions.
  3. The marginal benefit of a birth is suggested to increase rapidly with population growth and discounts rates, leading to implications concerning government spending priorities and possible optimization opportunities.

Abolish the SALT Deduction

California Thoughts • 19 implied HN points • 12 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Taxation Wealth Inequality Government spending Tax policy
  1. Repealing or increasing the cap on the SALT deduction would benefit the richest Americans and increase inequality.
  2. Factors like housing costs influence migration more than taxes, so removing the SALT deduction cap may not lead to as much migration as expected.
  3. It is suggested to abolish the SALT deduction and most other itemized deductions to prioritize spending on anti-poverty measures.

$10 Trillion Stolen Right Under Our Noses

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 34 implied HN points • 29 Aug 23
💰 Finance Economy Government spending Inflation Wealth Distribution Financial impact
  1. Over $10 trillion was recklessly spent on Covid relief, making people significantly poorer.
  2. The government's panicked spending went unnoticed by many due to the distribution method of electronic funds and stimulus checks.
  3. Inflation devalued household savings, widening the wealth gap and creating social stratification.

A tough year

Tech and Finance by G • 0 implied HN points • 06 Mar 23
💰 Finance Economy Inflation Federal Reserve Government spending Recession
  1. The economy is expected to worsen by the end of the year due to various factors like inflation and limited supply.
  2. The Federal Reserve is trying to manage inflation through rate hikes, but there is concern that it may lead to a recession.
  3. There is a prediction that the government will have to print more money to manage high inflation, resulting in a difficult economic situation.

Deficit Disorder

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 19 Aug 11
💰 Finance Economic Policy Debt Management Government spending
  1. There's a constant struggle between short-term and long-term economic needs. Short-term solutions like stimulus often overshadow long-term plans for dealing with debt.
  2. Any attempt to fix long-term debt issues will usually create short-term problems. Cutting spending or increasing taxes can make people suffer right away.
  3. Getting serious about reducing debt often happens when the economy is in a good place, but that can be the wrong time. It shows the challenges in making good political and economic decisions.

On the idea of a "taxpayer's receipt"

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 01 Oct 10
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government spending Taxation Public Policy Political Debate
  1. The idea of a 'taxpayer's receipt' sounds useful because it could show exactly where your taxes are going. But it’s really hard to make it accurate and complete.
  2. Mixing different types of taxes on the receipt may confuse people about how their money is actually spent. Not everyone's tax burden looks the same, and this might lead to misunderstandings.
  3. There are many political challenges with this idea. For example, many people don’t pay federal income taxes, so their receipt could look empty, which might cause more division than clarity.

US Debt Hits $31 Trillion as Inflation Surges to 40-Year High: What Does This Mean for American Businesses and Households?

The Tweetsift Report • 0 implied HN points • 10 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Debt Inflation Taxation Economic Policies Government spending
  1. The US debt has reached $31 trillion, hitting small businesses hard.
  2. Inflation has surged to a 40-year high of 9.1%, posing a significant challenge for many Americans.
  3. Efforts are being made to improve tax compliance by raising IRS funding, potentially leading to higher taxes for some individuals and businesses.