Budgetary Slack In Western Countries: Literature Review

Literature Review

Under-estimation of budgeted revenue otherwise over-estimation of budgeted expenses is consider budgetary slack. Moreover, during the financial planning, over-estimates expenses and underestimates projected income or revenues are the main cause of budgetary slack. Most of the country or government make budget to estimate the revenues and expenses of the each financial year. Budget given the direction of the government regarding the total amount of money spend to the people and welfare activities. If the government, underestimate collection of revenue and over-estimates expenses or expenditures then the budgetary slack situation create for a nation (Rubin, 2015).  

In the context of countries or economies, budgetary slack is started in the twentieth century. Budgetary slack is the economic concept and related to monetary and fiscal policies of the country. Fiscal and monetary policy is played major role in generated revenue and economy growth of the nation; therefore these economic policies are also related to budgetary slack. Changes in fiscal and monetary policy and changes in exchange rate of country in between the financial year may impacts on the revenue generation that create budgetary slack situation (Vanacker, Collewaert & Zahra, 2016). In addition, natural disaster in a financial year enhanced the government expenditures that also cause budgetary slack.

 In this paper, selects the topic of “Budgetary Slack in Western Countries” to assess the budgetary slack situation created in the western countries. This paper reviews past literatures on the budgetary slack in western countries. The main purpose of this research is defining budgetary slack (research problem) to develop full understanding the reason behind the budgetary slack situation creates in western countries. This research also uses qualitative and quantitative research methods to solve the research problem. In this paper, presents the different views of authors, scholars and researchers to prepare a literature review and prepares report on budgetary slack in western countries.

Revelation of Budgetary Slack:

According to Wang (2017), budget has become essential for internal management control of the function, utilities and activities to run a nation. The budget management practices have already used by many nations more than 60 years to control internal operations, functions and activities. In this paper, reviews the budgets and actual revenue and expenses of the Western developed countries since the 20^th century to identify the budgetary slack. The budget deficits of the western countries are associated with budgetary slack in the countries. In the case of over-estimates expenses or expenditures and the underestimated of revenue created budget deficit situation of the nation that is similar the budgetary slack. In the past five to six decades, many western countries are faced the budgetary slack situation due to budget deficit happened (Wang, 2017). In the word of Fadol, Barhem & Elbanna (2015), the budgetary slack is an association of the genuine cost and begins with the wrong estimation of the cost, revenue and expenses. Western scholars believed that the government focused on control of the cost and expenses to solve the budget issues. The budgetary slack begin with the supervisor was collect the wrong data or information and attempt to enhance budgetary slack. Included of numerous associations and several organizations also cause of budgetary slack due to these cannot estimate the accurate revenue and expenses (Fadol, Barhem, & Elbanna, 2015). 

Hudspeth, Merriman, Dye & Crosby (2015) presented their views on budgetary slack and stated that many western scholars were analyzed the budget and the financial plan of the countries that considered in this paper to evaluate the budgetary slack effects on the economy and nation. The budgetary slack meaning is an important scope of the aggregate spending plan and the differentiation of the government spending. It has been identified that western scholars proposed that budgetary slack is thinking little of the overestimation of cost, revenue or income and government make the budget to achieve spending targets and control on expenses or cost belittle suitability conduct (Hudspeth, Merriman, Dye & Crosby, 2015). The budgetary slack intentionally useful to measure of budgetary assets and the effects of budgetary slack is limit for a sensible spending plan and the more focused on the control of cost.

Maiga, Nilsson & Jacobs (2014) presented similar perspective and described that The budgetary slack purpose is a commonsense need to go past evaluate of budgetary assets or intentionally think to limit expenditure or spending that effects the people welfare spending. In the context of Australia, the budget is created on the basis of measure of budgetary assets, evaluate the sources of revenue, calculate the cost of capital and assess the expenses or spending.  There are numerous researches evaluated the budgetary slack impacts on cost, spending income, creation revenue to these pointers are the after effects of future operations and performance (Maiga, Nilsson & Jacobs, 2014).  The budgetary slack effects on the financial planning of the Commonwealth government due to underestimates projected income or revenue nation develop spending or expenditure plan lower than the actual revenue or income.  

Wenzelburger & Hörisch (2016) criticized the above expressions given by Hudspeth, Merriman, Dye & Crosby (2015); and Maiga, Nilsson & Jacobs (2014) by predicted that in the context of India, the budgetary slack main effects on the financial planning of the Indian government as underestimates of the revenue impacts on the government financial planning related to public welfare. The government spending focuses on budget and the spending administration all the planning related to assets utilization and gainful limit of expenses. The budgetary slack is effects on the spending administration planning as they underestimating of the pay and gainful limit on the expenses and overestimation of assets utilization. The budgetary slack is the type of misleading of the budget that utilization of the financial planning means wrong financial planning that effect on the result or outcome of the planning (Wenzelburger & Hörisch, 2016).. The budgetary slack is created the gap among the actual generation of revenue and actual expenses that indicates the weakness of the financial planning and lacking of spending administrative planning.

In addition, Kavanagh & Djemame (2015) explained that the budgetary slack effects on the estimation of the spending, so that the spending office chief will require changes in financial plan for ensure their financial more effectively executive and achieved their outcome. The spending office chief will utilize the bookkeeping information when identify the budget is budgetary slack to reduce effects of operations. Moreover, if all the data is one-sided then the high probability of budget will be the budgetary slack that presents underestimation of revenue, assets or income and over-estimates expenses, liability or spending (Kavanagh & Djemame, 2015).

Than (2015) also views in favor of Kavanagh & Djemame (2015) and states that the budgetary slack will deliver waste outcomes due to the non-reasonable objectives decide by the western countries. The budgetary slack indicates the weakness of the financial planning and non-reasonable objective sets on the basis of misleading budget that will generate waste outcome.  The budgetary slack is providing wrong information of the planer or director or governor regarding the short on assets, so that they are not able to achieve the vital outcomes (Than, 2015). Moses (2014) also stated that most of the countries are always ready to changes in their financial plan due to the uncertainty of the market and economic growth impacts on the generation of the revenue and spending on the people welfare activities. The western government like Indian government is less focused on the market and economic uncertainty that affect that country financial planning in the budgetary slack condition or situation. The western countries have decide the budgetary slack due to without considered the market uncertainty and their impacts on economy and revenue generation that effects their people and governmental spending and they cannot able to achieve objective of social welfare (Moses, 2014).

In the word of Hla, Ping, Isa, Tinggi & Japar (2016), Western scholars and researchers believed that the budget making on the basis of the past data and performance and not considered the future market and economic uncertainty are the main reason of budgetary slack. Moreover, the improper valuation of the budgetary assets and liabilities and the high estimation of expenses and low estimation of revenue generation or income due to base on the historical data and past performance that causes the budgetary slack. The budgetary slack in western countries reason is the spending administration variables and variables in the revenue or taxes generation due to changes in the market and effects of other country market. Bénétrix & Lane (2015) stated that global financial crisis in 2008-09 also created budgetary slack situation for the many the western countries like India and Australia. Moreover, decline in Indian currency (Rupee) also main reason of the budgetary slick in India due to currency fluctuation impacted on import and export trade balance and revenue generate from custom and trade duties.  

This section is more important that enhance reliability and accuracy of the research through properly described the research methodologies and techniques that will be applied to conduct this study systematically. This part explains the different research methods and then select best method that justified the selection of particular method that maintain credibility of the research. In addition to this, it is also important to know that, research techniques or method plays significant role in addressing the research questions, and solving the problems in an effective and proper manner. For case, with the use of various method, the researcher could be able to reach on a valid conclusion, so this part of the research help the researcher to effectively attain the desired goals and objectives associated with the research. The below part explains the research approach, design and method that will be implemented by the research to collect data or information to systematically reach an outcome of this study:

Research Approach: research approach is the way of deal with the research problems to reach the conclusion of the research study. In the field of management, inductive and deductive are two mostly applicant research approaches to solve the business issues in an appropriate way. The field of the research and research problem type is considered by the researcher while select one particular approach out of inductive and deductive to solve management/business filed issue. The deductive approach is effective to study the old topic or past theory/concept, although inductive approach is effective to investigate the current business issue and new concept or theory (Miller, Strang & Miller, 2010). The inductive approach than deductive approach will be more suitable for investigating this problem. The inductive approach is required quality data with less quantity that would be effective way of investigate this research issues due to time limitation and budget availability. In the same way, with the help of various research approaches, a researcher could solve the research problem, and address the research questions in an effective and proper manner.  

Research philosophy: Individual human psychology and psychological perspective is interrelated with the selection of the research philosophy, therefore different types of research philosophies applied by the researchers like realism, ontology, interpretive, positivism, and subjective. Positivism is related to positivity thinking of the researcher, realism is based on reality or scientific reason, interpretive is depend on critical thinking or view and subjective is related to the subject knowledge (Cottrell & McKenzie, 2011). In this research, the interpretive philosophy/paradigm will be used by the research due to real and current data needed to investigate this study that only collected through arguments views (critical analysis).

Research design: There are many techniques of classifies the research design such as descriptive (i.e. case-study, literature review, naturalistic observation, interview and survey), correlation (i.e. case-control study and observational study), semi-experimental (i.e. field experiment and quasi-experiment), experimental, review (i.e. literature review and systematic review), and meta-analytic/analysis. In this research, the descriptive way will be applied to collect the appropriate data or information for investigating this research problem (McNabb, 2010). Qualitative and quantitative are two research methods that are generally utilized in descriptive research design to collect primary and secondary data through conduct interview, survey, literature review, and case study.

Research method: Quantitative and qualitative are two descriptive deign related research methods that are basically used in management/business research. Quantitative is applied if required huge amount of data or information to investigate the research issue, while qualitative is utilized in the case of required quality and realistic data or information. Quantitative method is generally applied to investigate old theory, concept and model due to huge quantity data is needed for this kind of research study. In addition, qualitative method is basically employed to evaluate current topic and new concept or theory due to real, accurate and primary data needed for solving these research issues. In this study, mixed research method will be applied to collect the primary and secondary data or information and facts & figures for investigating this current problem (Collins, 2010). This research is required the collection of real, sufficient and quality data, so that mixed method will be appropriate to investigate the issues related to research problem.  

Overall, it can be said that, a researcher use various techniques and methods in order reach a valid conclusion. These methods help the researcher to effectively address the research questions and solve the problem in an effective and innovative manner.

A Project Plan

A project plan is essential aspects of the research proposal due to it explains the time schedule and milestones of the project that will be provided guideline of the researcher regarding the proper way of conduct the study. The proper explanation of the project plan is necessary to achieve the aim or objectives of the study through conduct the whole research in a systematic way (Maxfield & Babbie, 2011). This is also more effective tool for the researcher in order to complete the research on the given time period. This strategy is also allows the researcher to overcome various issues related to study on the time. Hence, it can be said that, developing a project plan is necessary task for the research in order to reach a valid conclusion, attain desired objectives and effectively solve the research problem. This project plan is explained the milestones and time schedule (Gantt chart) that would be applied by the researcher to finish study within time. The below section indicates a Gantt chart and milestones that is part of the project plan:

  Gantt chart:

Generally, horizontal bar chart those mentioned all activities of the project horizontally express the Gantt chart and time schedule of this research. The below Gantt chart indicated the all activities with time needed to finish each activity regarding with this study/project:

Weeks	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14
Meeting with Tutor
Proposal Submission
Introduction
Literature review
Research methods & Questionnaire formation
Survey questionnaire conduct
Data analysis & interpretation
Project Review
Project finalization/conclusion
Project Submission

Milestones:

In this research study, milestone/mileposts is interrelated with Gantt chart (time schedule) that provided guideline of the researcher regarding achieve these milestones for maintain the credibility of the study. The following are the main milestones of this project:

Week 2: Submit research proposal

Week 4: Introduction

Week 7: Literature Review

Week 8: Research Methodology & Questionnaire formation

Week 10: Survey Questionnaire Conduct 

Week 11: Data Analysis & Interpretation

Week 13: Project Finalization/Conclusion 

Week 14: Project Submission

The research structure explanation provided the direction of the researcher to complete the study in a systematic way. The overall research process is related with the Gantt chart and milestones these are as follow:

Introduction: This explains the background of the research topic and justifies the selection of the research issues through describes research aim, objectives, questions or hypotheses, scope, significant, and time schedule. This paper enhances the knowledge and understanding of the researcher on the research topic/issues through develops the conceptual framework that helps it to conduct the study (Miller, Strang & Miller, 2010).

Literature Review: In this chapter, the researcher will be collected the different views or opinions of the authors or scholars on the flexible working and its contribution in enhance employee morale and performance. This chapter will be used to develop hypotheses, questionnaire for survey or interview and solve research problem.

Research Methodology & Technique: This chapter explains the various research methods and techniques and then justifies the selection of particular research method or technique through explains their implications in the context of research subject or problem. This chapter is justified the selection of appropriate research philosophy/paradigm, method, approach, design, sampling and data collection ways that maintained the reliability and validity of this study (McNabb, 2010).

Data Presentation: This chapter presented the large data in the systematic and simple way through data present in the form of table, graph and pie chart. The data is gathered through primary and secondary way their presentation indicated the main finding of the data.

Data Analysis: This chapter analysis the data that is gathered in the previous chapters through literature review and questionnaire survey to find the outcome of the study (Maxfield & Babbie, 2011).

Conclusion: This chapter expressed final conclusion of the overall study and also justifies the practical and theoretical contributions of the study outcome.

In the same way, this structure helps the researcher to effectively and successfully complete the research in an effective and more dynamic manner.

Data Collection & Analysis

In the present time the researcher use both the types of method to collect the significant information about the research topic. For example, with the help of primary method, a researcher could investigate the issues on the basis of fresh and new information. In the other hand, by using secondary method, the researcher could solve and collect a variety of information effectively. This information could be easily collected by the researcher. Primary and secondary are the two sources that utilized to collect the fresh and old data or information regarding the research issue. Primary means the fresh data or information that is not used earlier that will be collected by conducted survey in this research study. The questionnaire survey will be conducted through selected various employees or people those are directly or indirectly related with the research (Maxfield & Babbie, 2011). The researcher will be send open-ended questionnaire of the employee from e-mail and then collect their responded relate to the research topic.

Random probability and non-probability sampling are the two ways of select participants for the questionnaire survey. In this research, the random sampling will be used than non-probability sampling to select employees from the all Australian employees. In this research, the secondary data will be gathering through conduct literature review by the use of secondary sources such as scholar articles, journals, government reports, telecommunication firms’ internal report, company financial statements, and other reliable online sources. The researcher will be collecting secondary data through presented the views of different authors on the topic (Miller, Strang & Miller, 2010). The researcher will not be used statistic methods of data analysis, but utilized the content analysis method to evaluate the primary and secondary data for reaching an outcome of the study.

The literature review is an effective way to collect the secondary data to evaluate or analyze the any research problem. Literature review is developed the conceptual framework that enhanced the understanding and knowledge of the researcher on the research topic or issues; therefore they able to design hypotheses, analyze the hypotheses and reach an outcome of the study. This study affects knowledge of the researcher on the budget, so it takes an interest in study of the budgetary slack in western countries. The various past literatures utilized to define the budgetary slack and reason behind this issues or situation created in the western countries (Hudspeth, Merriman, Dye & Crosby, 2015). Many past literature review have mentioned that the western countries attention to the spending administration and valuation of the budgetary assets and liabilities to reduce issues related to budgetary slack. The budgetary slack is related to under and over estimation of the revenue or taxes generation and expenses or spending; therefore proper estimation of revenues and expenses will be essential for western countries to reduce probability of the budgetary slack.

In addition, some past literature also mentioned that the western government used the similar strategies that they used to face budget deficit for control the budgetary slack. Moreover, differences in the taxes or revenue collection and the government expenses are generated budget deficit situation that is also required the proper estimation and changes in budget on the basis of market and economic fluctuation to reduce probability of generate budget deficit and the budgetary slack situation (Flink, 2017). The monetary and fiscal policy changes are considered while develop government budget also strategy used by the countries to reduce the budgetary issues.

In addition, literature review discovered that there is less differences in the reason behind of budgetary slick in the western countries like India and Australia. The literature review indicated the market changes, political change, natural disaster and economic fluctuation impacts on the western countries tax or revenue collection and spending that faced by the governments to change in their fiscal and monetary economic policy and change in budget to reduce probability of the situation of budgetary slack. The literature review clearly mentioned the main reason of budgetary slack among the western countries that justified the estimation of the budgetary assets on the basis of past data or information and not consider the current market value of assets also cause of underestimate the project revenue or income (Kioko, 2015). Overvaluation of income or revenue and under estimates of expenses or spending by the western countries, due to depended on past data or information and have not considered current and future trend that create the budgetary slack situation.

Moreover, budgetary slack would make the policy maker or chiefs or governor that there is no reason to make planning of face the budgetary slack, so that they face more troublesome in achieve their goals or objectives of budget. The budgetary slack is mainly effected the financial plan and the spending administration, due to the under and over estimation of the collection of revenue or taxes and spending on the people, facilities or infrastructure. A financial plan for spending of the social and welfare activities and industrial development through develop infrastructure will affect by the budgetary slack. Financial plan and administrative spending of the western countries depended on the government yearly budget and budgetary slack situation impacts on the administrative planning, executing and spending (Kim, 2015). Budgetary slack situation required the western countries make change in their budget through modify the fiscal and monetary policy to reduce impact of budgetary slack on the financial plan and executive spending.

The dependence of other nations for trade (import-export) and the market uncertainty, and natural disasters are main cause of the budgetary slack or budget deficit that impacts on the government financial planning and require changes in the spending or financial plan. The western countries have not properly considered the international trade, weather changes, natural or market uncertainty and economic growth that impacted its ability to accurate estimate of revenue or tax collection and expenses or governmental spending that is reason of budgetary slack (Dropuli? & Pervan, 2013).. Previous articles indicate that budgetary slack will influence financial plan, administration, and government spending on the infrastructure, industry growth and social welfare activities. In this paper, the budgetary slack impacted on the government target and objectives also explained as due to over-estimates of expenses government control their expenses and spending that may affect the ability to achieve their national, economical and social target and objectives (Stanisevski & Fowler, 2015).

In this research mainly the western countries like Australia and India targeted that indicated countries have not reacted market, economic, political and natural or environmental changes in proper way that affected their budget and create budgetary slack situation. The execution of financial or economic plan with consider the budget required the changes in budget according to the market variation, economy fluctuation, political dispute or issues, natural disasters and other factors (Anessi-Pessina & Sicilia, 2015). Continuous review of the financial plan and administration spending deliver a positive connection with government budget. In addition, there are some opposite discoveries as low spending of money on all activities plan applied by the western countries to save money or revenue in the end of year this would make budgetary slack situation. Western government undervalued their budgetary assets and underestimates their tax or revenue collection to ensure some fund have in the end of the year to able the face any unwanted or unexpected situation, but this generate budgetary slack position (Rochmatullah, Hartanto & Arifin, 2016). 

This section analysis the data that is collected from literature review (secondary sources) and presents the finding of the data analysis. The literature review is presented the reason of the budgetary slack and their impacts on the western countries. The data or literature review indicated that the budgetary slack situation faced by many western countries specially India and Australia in the past 60 years. It is indicated these nations weakness of the valuation of the budgetary assets, estimation of revenue and tax collection, calculation of cost of capital, and estimation of the expenses and spending of fund (Hudspeth, Merriman, Dye & Crosby, 2015). 

The data just clear that under-estimation collection of revenue or taxes and over-estimation of expenses or spending are the main reason of the budgetary slack in the western countries. Moreover, India and Australia both countries highly depended on the past data or information to estimate budgetary assets, revenue or tax collection, government spending or expenses are contributed into overestimation otherwise underestimation that cause the budgetary slack in these countries. Investigation of Western countries budgetary slack provides a superior clarification regarding the reason of budgetary slack and their effects on the nations (Hla, Ping, Isa, Tinggi & Japar, 2016).

Moreover, literature review or data justified that budgetary slack effects on the western countries through they face challenges related to financial plan and administrative spending. The budgetary slack effects on the financial plan and administrative or government public and private spending due to government need to change in their budget to deal with the budgetary slack situation (Rubin, 2015). Moreover, data expressed that the budgetary slack impacted on the execution of the financial plan that affects the government ability to achieve their economical and social targets, goals and objectives, due to they need to reduce their expenses or spending for deal with budgetary slack.

Conclusions

On the basis of the above research study, it can be concluded that this research paper would be effective to identified the reason of the budgetary slack in the western countries specially Australia and India as well as justified the budgetary slack effects on these nations. The western countries specially India and Australia have highly focused on the historical data or information and not considered current market condition while evaluating or estimating the budgetary assets, collection of taxes or revenue and expenses or government spending that is the main reason of the budgetary slack. Moreover, it should also be noted down that, India has not considered the changes in their exchange rate that affected their revenue or tax collection and generated the budgetary slack situation. The financial crisis 2008-09 justified that Western countries have not considered the market uncertainty, economic fluctuation, political issues and natural or environmental changes that main reason of the underestimate and overestimate and cause of the budgetary slack. Moreover, finding expressed that budgetary slack in India and Australia affects their financial plan, administrative spending and their ability to achieve financial, economical and social targets or goals or objectives. In addition, it can be recommended that western government consider current market value of budgetary assets as well as considered the current trend of the market, economy, political, weather and environment while estimate the revenue or tax collection and government spending or expenses to reduce probability of the budgetary slack situation.

References

Anessi-Pessina, E., & Sicilia, M. (2015). Biased Budgeting in the Public Sector: Evidence from Italian Local Governments. Local Government Studies, 41(6), 819-840.

Bénétrix, A. S., & Lane, P. R. (2015). International differences in fiscal outcomes during the global crisis. Fiscal Studies, 36(1), 1-27.

Collins, H. (2010) Creative Research: The Theory and Practice of Research for the Creative Industries. AVA Publishing.

Dropuli?, I., & Pervan, I. (2013). Design of Budget Controls: A Study for Croatian Manufacturing Companies. In WASET International conference on business, management, economics and finance.

Fadol, Y., Barhem, B., & Elbanna, S. (2015). The mediating role of the extensiveness of strategic planning on the relationship between slack resources and organizational performance. Management Decision, 53(5), 1023-1044.

Flink, C. M. (2017). Ordering Chaos: The Performance Consequences of Budgetary Changes. The American Review of Public Administration, 0275074016687072.

Hla, D. T., Ping, C. S., Isa, A. H. M., Tinggi, M., & Japar, S. (2016). Public Budget Ratcheting: Do Malaysia Federal Government Agencies Adjust Their Budgets Based on Expenditure Variances?. UNIMAS Review of Finance and Accounting, 1(1).

Hudspeth, N. W., Merriman, D. F., Dye, R. F., & Crosby, A. W. (2015). Do Troubled Times Invite Cloudy Budget Reporting? The Determinants of General Fund Expenditure Share in US States. Public Budgeting & Finance, 35(4), 68-89.

Hudspeth, N. W., Merriman, D. F., Dye, R. F., & Crosby, A. W. (2015). Do Troubled Times Invite Cloudy Budget Reporting? The Determinants of General Fund Expenditure Share in US States. Public Budgeting & Finance, 35(4), 68-89.

Kavanagh, R., & Djemame, K. (2015). An economic market for the brokering of time and budget guarantees. Concurrency and Computation: Practice and Experience, 27(3), 546-580.

Kim, W. (2015). Do government spending multipliers depend on the level of government debt? US historical data evidence. Applied Economics Letters, 22(8), 668-672.

Kioko, S. N. (2015). Impact of Tax and Expenditure Limitations on Local Government Savings. In Local Government Budget Stabilization (pp. 141-169). Springer International Publishing.

Maiga, A. S., Nilsson, A., & Jacobs, F. A. (2014). Assessing the impact of budgetary participation on budgetary outcomes: the role of information technology for enhanced communication and activity-based costing. Journal of Management Control, 25(1), 5-32.

Maxfield, M.G. & Babbie, E.R (2011). Basics of Research Methods for Criminal Justice and Criminology (3^rd ed.). USA: Cengage Learning.

McNabb, D.E. (2010). Research Methods for Political Science: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches (2^nd ed.). USA: M.E. Sharpe.

Miller, P.G., Strang, J. & Miller, P.M. (2010). Addiction Research Methods. USA: John Wiley and Sons.

Moses, A. C. (2014). An optimum condition for attainment of a single currency project in West Africa. Megatrend revija, 11(4), 109-128.

Rochmatullah, M. R., Hartanto, R., & Arifin, A. (2016). Determinating The Value of Capital Expenditure Allocation in Indonesia Local Government. Jurnal Ekonomi Pembangunan: Kajian Masalah Ekonomi dan Pembangunan, 17(2), 152-166.

Rubin, I. (2015). Past and Future Budget Classics: A Research Agenda. Public Administration Review, 75(1), 25-35.

Stanisevski, D., & Fowler, L. (2015). Is California Broke Or Is Its Budgeting System Broken? Empirical Examination Of The Budget Affordability, The Institutional Arrangements, And The Growth Of Deficits In California. Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management, 27(3), 377-402.

Than, T. M. M. (2015). Myanmar’s Economic Reforms: Hard Choices Ahead. Social Research: An International Quarterly, 82(2), 453-480.

Vanacker, T., Collewaert, V., & Zahra, S. A. (2016). Slack resources, firm performance, and the institutional context: Evidence from privately held European firms. Strategic Management Journal.

Wang, W. (2017). The effects of political and fiscal incentives on local government behavior: An analysis of fiscal slack in China. International Public Management Journal, 20(2), 294-315.

Wenzelburger, G., & Hörisch, F. (2016). Framing effects and comparative social policy reform: comparing blame avoidance evidence from two experiments. Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis: Research and Practice, 18(2), 157-175.