Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents vii
3. List of Tables and Figures ix
4. Preface xi
5. 1. Balanced Budgets and Symbolic Politics 1
6. 2. The Economics of Deficit Spending 9
7. 3. Colonial Deficits, Constitutional Restrictions, and the Rise of Hamiltonian Government 54
8. 4. Creating a Symbol: Balanced Budgets and the Concept of Corruption 85
9. 5. Distorting a Symbol: Republican Party Government, 1861-1932 121
10. 6. Transforming a Symbol: Democratic Party Government, 1933-1980 161
11. 7. Coming to Grips with a Symbol: Ronald Reagan and Unbalanced Budgets 198
12. Appendix 1. State Debts and the Development of Off-Budget Spending,1860-1984 237
13. Appendix 2. The Reagan Budget Battles, FY 1982-1985 240
14. Appendix 3. Federal Receipts, Expenditures, Surpluses, Deficits, and Debt, 1789-1984 287
15. Notes 293
16. Selected Bibliography 329
17. Index 339