This paper examines the causal impact of citizen-initiated ballot measures, defined as initiatives and veto referendums, on state government revenues and expenditures. Across U.S. states, direct democratic institutions have been introduced at different points in time, creating a setting that...

At just under £8 billion, spending on schools and childcare is the second-largest area of public service spending in Scotland, behind spending on health. While councils rather than the Scottish Government itself determine how much to spend on schools, they do so in the context of a funding and...

The debate around funding student loans has largely focused on what share of student loans will be repaid, and what share of the cost will need to be picked up by the taxpayer. Much less attention has been paid to the government cost of financing student loans that do get repaid. In this report,...