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Punctuations and agendas: A new look at local government budget expenditures
Author(s) -
Jordan Meagan M.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of policy analysis and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.898
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1520-6688
pISSN - 0276-8739
DOI - 10.1002/pam.10136
Subject(s) - punctuated equilibrium , local government , government (linguistics) , budget process , economics , public policy , public economics , process (computing) , government budget , foundation (evidence) , public administration , political science , public finance , politics , macroeconomics , law , computer science , economic growth , paleontology , linguistics , philosophy , biology , operating system
Punctuated equilibrium theory (PET) is an agenda‐based theory that offers a theoreticalfoundation for large budget shifts. PET emphasizes that the static, incremental nature of agendas isoccasionally interrupted by punctuations. These punctuations indicate shifts in priority among the agenda items,and with those agenda shifts come trade‐offs. This article expands the discussion of punctuated budgetsto the level of local government by determining that local government expenditures have the characteristicsespoused by the punctuated equilibrium theory. The article also determines the frequency of punctuations and theprobability for future punctuations. The findings show that some budget functions and policy types are moreprone to punctuations and, therefore, have a less stable agenda. The practical significance of extending PET tolocal government budgeting is the implication on planning, forecasting, and the agenda‐setting process.© 2003 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.