Dennis S. Ippolito is Eugene McElvaney Professor of Political Science at Southern Methodist University. He has published eight previous books, including Uncertain Legacies: Federal Budget Policy from Roosevelt through Reagan (1990) and Blunting the Sword: Budget Policy and the Future of Defense (1994).
Dennis Ippolito has written another important book on the federal
budget. . . . One genuine achievement of the book is the
organization of a massive amount of information into historical
periods that correspond with larger developments in American
politics. Ippolito combines secondary sources with extensive
references to government fiscal documents to map budget decisions
over time, identify changes in major priorities, and link budget
decisions to broader developments in United States domestic and
foreign policy. Daniel J Palazzolo, Perspectives on Politics"
Dennis Ippolito offers the reader an invaluable historical review
of American budgeting from the founding of the Republic through the
contemporary period. As of now, there is no other publication of
this breadth. James D. Savage, University of Virginia"
Ippolito s analysis of the budget process is an important
contribution to the literature on the American budget process. It
is unquestionably one of the best books on the subject, similar in
scope to Aaron Wildavsky s classic The New Politics of the
Budgetary Process (1988). Overall, Why Budgets Matter: Budget
Policy and American Government is an excellent historical account
of the federal budget process, and it is intended for a general
adult reading audience. Patrick Fisher, Perspectives on Political
Science"
It is said that some governments go over their budgets very
carefully, while others do it without even noticing. Ippolito
manages to convey something fresh and new about both the revenue
and expenditure sides of budgets in this well-written and
comprehensive text.But what I found astonishing about the book is
its ambition: it explains why the federal budget works as it does,
rather than just describing the process.Ippolito's main thesis,
that the tendency toward deficits and growth of government is a
product of larger forces in American politics, looked like an
anachronism just two years ago.But deficits are back.This book
couldn't be more timely, and it couldn't be more important. Michael
Munger, Duke University"
One genuine achievement of the book is the historical periods that
correspond with larger developments in American politics. Ippolito
combines secondary sources with extensive references to government
financial documents to map budget decisions over time, identify
changes in major priorities, and link budget decisions to broader
developments in United States domestic and foreign policy. Daniel
J. Palazzolo, American Politics"
This book is without doubt the best analysis yet written of federal
budgeting from the late eighteenth century to the present. . . .
The subject matter of this splendid book should therefore be of
immense interest to students of political history and public
policy. Iwan Morgan, Journal of American History"
This work is particularly notable because it starts with the very
beginnings of the US in 1789; most analysis of federal finance
concentrates on the post-WWII era. J.L. Mikesell, Choice"
What a timely book. As the U.S. federal government embarks on a
course of record-setting debt accumulation, Dennis Ippolito
provides the perfect context: the story of American fiscal policy.
This is not another book about process. It is not another
description of congressional wrangling. And it is not a period
piece. In Why Budgets Matter, Ippolito offers us something new. . .
. He has provided a broad, sweeping history and a good one at that.
What seems to belong, given the scope of the book, is there; what
does not belong, is not. The accounting itself is nicely documented
and rings true. It also is a pleasure to read. . . . [T]here . . .
is much to recommend this book to many different audiences. It is
ideal for various undergraduate courses and selected graduate
courses as well. Most scholars of American politics and policy will
want to have a copy at hand, as will attentive members of the
general public. Christopher Wlezien, Political Science
Quarterly"
"Dennis Ippolito has written another important book on the federal
budget. . . . One genuine achievement of the book is the
organization of a massive amount of information into historical
periods that correspond with larger developments in American
politics. Ippolito combines secondary sources with extensive
references to government fiscal documents to map budget decisions
over time, identify changes in major priorities, and link budget
decisions to broader developments in United States domestic and
foreign policy."--Daniel J Palazzolo, Perspectives on Politics
"Dennis Ippolito offers the reader an invaluable historical review
of American budgeting from the founding of the Republic through the
contemporary period. As of now, there is no other publication of
this breadth."--James D. Savage, University of Virginia
"Ippolito's analysis of the budget process is an important
contribution to the literature on the American budget process. It
is unquestionably one of the best books on the subject, similar in
scope to Aaron Wildavsky's classic The New Politics of the
Budgetary Process (1988). Overall, Why Budgets Matter: Budget
Policy and American Government is an excellent historical account
of the federal budget process, and it is intended for a general
adult reading audience."--Patrick Fisher, Perspectives on Political
Science
"It is said that some governments go over their budgets very
carefully, while others do it without even noticing. Ippolito
manages to convey something fresh and new about both the revenue
and expenditure sides of budgets in this well-written and
comprehensive text. But what I found astonishing about the book is
its ambition: it explains why the federal budget works as it does,
rather than just describing the process. Ippolito's main thesis,
that the tendency toward deficits and growth of government is a
product of larger forces in American politics, looked like an
anachronism just two years ago. But deficits are back. This book
couldn't be more timely, and it couldn't be more
important."--Michael Munger, Duke University
"One genuine achievement of the book is the historical periods that
correspond with larger developments in American politics. Ippolito
combines secondary sources with extensive references to government
financial documents to map budget decisions over time, identify
changes in major priorities, and link budget decisions to broader
developments in United States domestic and foreign policy."--Daniel
J. Palazzolo, American Politics
"This book is without doubt the best analysis yet written of
federal budgeting from the late eighteenth century to the present.
. . . The subject matter of this splendid book should therefore be
of immense interest to students of political history and public
policy."--Iwan Morgan, Journal of American History
"This work is particularly notable because it starts with the very
beginnings of the US in 1789; most analysis of federal finance
concentrates on the post-WWII era."--J.L. Mikesell, Choice
"What a timely book. As the U.S. federal government embarks on a
course of record-setting debt accumulation, Dennis Ippolito
provides the perfect context: the story of American fiscal policy.
This is not another book about process. It is not another
description of congressional wrangling. And it is not a period
piece. In Why Budgets Matter, Ippolito offers us something new. . .
. He has provided a broad, sweeping history and a good one at that.
What seems to belong, given the scope of the book, is there; what
does not belong, is not. The accounting itself is nicely documented
and rings true. It also is a pleasure to read. . . . [T]here . . .
is much to recommend this book to many different audiences. It is
ideal for various undergraduate courses and selected graduate
courses as well. Most scholars of American politics and policy will
want to have a copy at hand, as will attentive members of the
general public."--Christopher Wlezien, Political Science
Quarterly
A comprehensive, clear, and valuable account of the exceedingly
complex history of federal budgeting. Ippolito succeeds admirably.
Louis Fisher, Congressional Research Service"
"A comprehensive, clear, and valuable account of the exceedingly
complex history of federal budgeting. Ippolito succeeds
admirably."--Louis Fisher, Congressional Research Service
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