The Budget Is Not Mainly About Money, It’s About Governance

Abstract

Budgeting is a governance process that drives national plans, priorities and policy. While much of that is reflected in the content of the budget, important governance aspects are also reflected in the budgeting process. The Open Budget Survey is designed to examine this process. This Insight suggests that a look at the process thus far, for the 2016 budget, gives no indication that the change in government has resulted in improved governance relative to the years past.