tax revenues

Balancing the budget isn't just a federal problem -- it's a state one, too. The Great Recession resulted in some of the lowest state revenues in years, and some of the biggest budget shortfalls ever -- in some cases, into the billions of dollars.

Like all budgets, the federal government's spending plan is all about revenues and expenditures. Unfortunately, Uncle Sam is very good at grossly overestimating tax receipts and grossly underestimating spending. It's enough to make you wonder if any of it is real.

Investors received another sign Friday that the U.S. economy is continuing to heal: The 2010 U.S. budget deficit came in at a smaller-than-predicted $1.29 trillion. Though it was still the second-highest deficit on record, the numbers reflect growth in tax revenues, and thus in the economy.

Investors received another slice of good news Monday about the U.S. economy: The federal budget deficit for August totaled a smaller than expected $90.5 billion, thanks to rising government revenues due to higher tax receipts from stronger corporate profits.

The $3.8 trillion spending plan combines overly rosy projections of rapidly rising tax revenues with skyrocketing outlays in defense, entitlements and other mandatory spending, creating structural deficits above $1 trillion for a long time. Ending Bush-era tax cuts on the rich won't change that reality.

Most mainstream academic and government economists -- elites, we should note, who are generally well-protected from the vagaries of the real world -- are united in the view that massive federal deficits to fund stimulus programs are not just a good thing but a necessary thing. Economist J. Brad...

Two months ago, the predictions were dire. The Treasury Department calculated that at the then-current pace, tax receipts for 2009 would be almost 20% less than last year. The drop in tax revenues was thought to be the steepest decline since 1932 during the Great Depression. Data out this week,...