State Budgets, Governors, and Their Influence on “Big-Picture Issues”
A Case Study of Delaware Governor Pete du Pont 1977-1985
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 11104336 |
|---|---|
| Authors | George E Hale (Kutztown University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2013 |
| Volume | 45 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 127-144 |
| Publication date | 2013-03-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Administration & Society (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0095-3997 • E-ISSN: 1552-3039 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/0095399713479437 |
| OpenAlex | W2103871067 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
| References cited | 21 |
Studies of state budgeting focus on gubernatorial power primarily by examining executive influence over appropriations to individual agencies or programs. They also view executive versus legislative budgeting as a short-term zero-sum game. An alternative approach is to look at budgeting from a long-term perspective centered on “big-picture” elements of a state’s financial position. This case study takes this perspective by looking at Delaware Governor Pete du Pont’s tenure (1977-1985) when he engineered a remarkable, long-term financial turnaround in the face of economic stagnation, undisciplined spending, historically weak financial management, and divided government. His leadership resulted in balanced budgets, repeated tax cuts, upgraded bond ratings, and reduced unemployment. The case illustrates how governors can impact “big-picture” issues with influence extending well beyond their tenure in office. An examination of du Pont’s leadership style suggests strong similarities to leaders studied by Jim Collins who have transformed other organizations. Looking at the effectiveness of du Pont’s leadership style suggests that clear priorities, bipartisan solutions, and altering the institutional framework for tax and spending decisions can contribute positively to influence over “big-picture” issues of state finance
Accountability · Economics · Government (linguistics · Governor · Legislature · Perspective (graphical · Political science · Position (finance · State (computer science · Accounting · Finance · Fiscal Policies and Political Economy · Fiscal Policy and Economic Growth · Law · Local Government Finance and Decentralization · Public Administration
Politics in the American States
America’s Homo Sacer
Executive Leadership Versus Budgetary Beha vior
Response to Kasdan’s “Great Books”
The Hedgehog and the Fox
Divided Government and Budget Conflict in the U. S. States
Agency Requests, Gubernatorial Support, and Budget Success in State Legislatures Revisited
A Dynamic Model of State Budget Outcomes under Divided Partisan Government
Chief Executive Success in the Legislative Arena
Size Doesn't Matter
Fiscal Transparency, Gubernatorial Approval, and the Scale of Government
The End of Executive Dominance in State Appropriations
Determinants of Perceived Gubernatorial Budgetary Influence among State Executive Budget Analysts and Legislative Fiscal Analysts
Governors, Legislatures, and State Budgets across Time
Divided Government, Fiscal Institutions, and Budget Deficits
Agency Requests, Gubernatorial Support and Budget Success in State Legislatures
Perceptions of the Impact of Governors and Legislatures in the State Appropriations Process
| Citations per year | 0.25 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2014 - 2016 (3) |
| Highly cited | No |