Red ink risingThe road to fiscal sustainability |
In the wake of a global recession, cities, states, and nations around the world are bracing to deal with a rising wave of red ink. As debt grows, governments fear they may lose financial foothold and tumble into The Gap. Though it may appear to be purely an issue of the bottom line, The Gap represents more than just the imbalance between revenue and expenditures – it also encompasses governments’ struggle to improve performance and catch up to a new economy.
With shifting demographics leading to rising costs in health care, social security, and pensions, the need to tackle the growing Gap is more important than ever. But, the road to fiscal balance will not be an easy path to tread – there is no definite solution, quick fix, or step-by-step guide. The journey will entail a concurrent navigation of three distinct phases: conceptual, political blueprint, and transformation.
This paper explores the path to fiscal sustainability by looking at the challenges posed by the current economic landscape and provides a framework to address these issues in order to navigate a successful journey.
Related links
Focus on the issues: Red ink rising
Podcast: Staying afloat in a sea of red ink
Article: "Overload: Streamlining governments" by Bill Eggers and John O'Leary (Governing.com, 25 August 2010)
Article: "Sustainable Government is Attainable Government" by Bill Eggers and John O'Leary (Governing.com, 28 July 2010)
Red ink rising: The road to fiscal sustainability
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