Background
In fiscal planning and financial management, both federal governments and businesses set financial guidelines and allocate resources over specified time frames called “budget years”.
Historical Context
The concept of a budget year traces back to the necessity for governments to plan, record, and manage revenues and expenditures efficiently. The alignment of fiscal years allows for logical financial reporting and policy formulation, suiting varied governmental and organizational needs.
Definitions and Concepts
Budget Year:
- The specific 12-month period for which fiscal policy and budgets are prepared and implemented.
- For the U.S. federal government, this runs from October 1 to September 30 of the following year.
- In the UK, the fiscal year runs from April 6 to April 5.
Major Analytical Frameworks
Classical Economics
Addresses budget allocation transparency and the efficiency of government spending. Less focus on specific fiscal periods like budget years.
Neoclassical Economics
Evaluates government spending’s impact on economic efficiency during the budget year, emphasizing optimization.
Keynesian Economy
Focuses on the interplay of fiscal policy within the budget year to manage economic cycles, particularly government expenditure’s role in stabilization policies.
Marxian Economics
Analyzes budget years in the context of resource allocation, emphasizing government intervention and control over capitalistic tendencies.
Institutional Economics
Studies the institutional factors during the budget year shaping financial policies, regulatory impacts, and budgeting processes.
Behavioral Economics
Examines decision-making behaviors affecting the budgeting process within a fiscal year, informed by cognitive biases and heuristic-driven management.
Post-Keynesian Economics
Looks at budget years with a focus on fiscal sustainability, redistribution, and governmental role in economic stability throughout the year.
Austrian Economics
Critiques centralized planning of budget years, advocating for less government intervention and more market-determined fiscal operations.
Development Economics
Analyzes budget years in relation to development goals, emphasizing strategies and financial planning adapting to socio-economic objectives.
Monetarism
Considers the distribution and control of money flow within the budget year, vital to managing inflation and economic stability.
Comparative Analysis
Comparing US and UK fiscal years reveals arbitrary differences in start-end cycles reflecting historical precedents. The US prefers October-September, possibly for simplicity in Congressional elections’ aftermath, while the UK’s April-April rhythm has colonial roots aligning with agricultural cycles.
Case Studies
- U.S. Federal Budget Analysis (FY 2021-2022)
- Investigates the impact and outcomes of fiscal policies executed during the budget year.
- UK Budget Year Realignment Synchronization Study
- Explores policy outcomes from shifting the fiscal year alignment to meld with past agricultural and colonial economic rhythms.
Suggested Books for Further Studies
- “Fiscal Policy and Government Finance” by Michael Dürr
- “Public Budgeting Systems” by Robert Lee and Ronald Johnson
- “Economic Policy Beyond the Headlines” by George P. Shultz and Kenneth W. Dam
Related Terms with Definitions
- Fiscal Year: Any yearly period used by a company or government for accounting purposes, not necessarily matching the calendar year.
- Appropriations: Legal authorization by a legislative body for government expenditure based on projected revenues within a budget year.
- Deficits and Surpluses: Financial state assessed within a budget year where government expenditures exceed revenues (deficit) or vice versa (surplus).
