James D. Savage
Encyclopedia
James D. Savage is a political science
professor at the University of Virginia
. He is an expert in government budget
policies and budget theory
. He completed his undergraduate degrees in political science and psychology at the University of California, Riverside
, his graduate degrees in political science, public policy, and economics at the University of California, Berkeley
, and his post-doctoral fellowship at Harvard University
. At Berkeley, Savage studied under Nelson Polsby and Aaron Wildavsky
.
Savage is best known for three books on American and comparative budgeting and fiscal policy
: Balanced Budgets and American Politics1; Funding Science in America: Congress, Universities and the Politics of the Academic Porkbarrel 2; and Making the EMU: The Politics of Budgetary Surveillance and the Enforcement of Maastricht 3. The first book explores the origins of the idea of balancing budgets and its affect on American politics, fiscal policies, and institutional development from 1690 through the Reagan presidency. The book argues that the idea of balancing the budget is fundamentaly rooted in American political thought that can be tied, for example, to the political differences that divided the Jeffersonians and the Hamiltonians. The second book analyzes the politics of congressional earmarking
in the federal budget for universities and colleges. This book explores how the idea of peer review of federal research funding is violated by universities that engage in earmarking. The third book examines how the enforcement of the Maastricht Treaty
's budgetary rules played a critical role in the creation of the European Union
's Economic and Monetary Union
and the later enforcement of the Stability and Growth Pact
. The common thread connecting these books together is that budgeting and budgetary policies are deeply influenced by and reflect the contest over ideas and values.
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
professor at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
. He is an expert in government budget
Budget
A budget is a financial plan and a list of all planned expenses and revenues. It is a plan for saving, borrowing and spending. A budget is an important concept in microeconomics, which uses a budget line to illustrate the trade-offs between two or more goods...
policies and budget theory
Budget theory
Budget theory is the academic study of political and social motivations behind government and civil society budgeting. Classic theorists in Public Budgeting include Henry Adams, William F. Willoughby, V. O. Key, Jr., and, more recently, Aaron Wildavsky. Notable recent theorists include Baumgartner...
. He completed his undergraduate degrees in political science and psychology at the University of California, Riverside
University of California, Riverside
The University of California, Riverside, commonly known as UCR or UC Riverside, is a public research university and one of the ten general campuses of the University of California system. UCR is consistently ranked as one of the most ethnically and economically diverse universities in the United...
, his graduate degrees in political science, public policy, and economics at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, and his post-doctoral fellowship at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. At Berkeley, Savage studied under Nelson Polsby and Aaron Wildavsky
Aaron Wildavsky
Aaron Wildavsky was an American political scientist known for his pioneering work in public policy, government budgeting, and risk management....
.
Savage is best known for three books on American and comparative budgeting and fiscal policy
Fiscal policy
In economics and political science, fiscal policy is the use of government expenditure and revenue collection to influence the economy....
: Balanced Budgets and American Politics1; Funding Science in America: Congress, Universities and the Politics of the Academic Porkbarrel 2; and Making the EMU: The Politics of Budgetary Surveillance and the Enforcement of Maastricht 3. The first book explores the origins of the idea of balancing budgets and its affect on American politics, fiscal policies, and institutional development from 1690 through the Reagan presidency. The book argues that the idea of balancing the budget is fundamentaly rooted in American political thought that can be tied, for example, to the political differences that divided the Jeffersonians and the Hamiltonians. The second book analyzes the politics of congressional earmarking
Earmark (politics)
In United States politics, an earmark is a legislative provision that directs approved funds to be spent on specific projects, or that directs specific exemptions from taxes or mandated fees...
in the federal budget for universities and colleges. This book explores how the idea of peer review of federal research funding is violated by universities that engage in earmarking. The third book examines how the enforcement of the Maastricht Treaty
Maastricht Treaty
The Maastricht Treaty was signed on 7 February 1992 by the members of the European Community in Maastricht, Netherlands. On 9–10 December 1991, the same city hosted the European Council which drafted the treaty...
's budgetary rules played a critical role in the creation of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
's Economic and Monetary Union
Economic and monetary union
An economic and monetary union is a type of trade bloc which is composed of an economic union with a monetary union. It is to be distinguished from a mere monetary union , which does not involve a common market. This is the fifth stage of economic integration...
and the later enforcement of the Stability and Growth Pact
Stability and Growth Pact
The Stability and Growth Pact is an agreement among the 27 Member states of the European Union that take part in the Eurozone, to facilitate and maintain the stability of the Economic and Monetary Union...
. The common thread connecting these books together is that budgeting and budgetary policies are deeply influenced by and reflect the contest over ideas and values.