Thomas Dexter Lynch

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION QUARTERLY
Twenty-First Century Budget Reform: Performance. Entrepreneurial, and Competitive Budgeting.
Thomas D. Lynch
Cynthia E. Lynch
Louisiana State University.
ABSTRACT

This article looks at the possible public budgeting evolution that will take place as a result of the changes brought into place by the information revolution. The authors argue that a fundamental historical change. They first examine progressive reform movement and the forms of public budgeting so common in government today, they then look at the futurist literature to describe the remarkable changes brought to society due to the information age. From that literature the authors argue that a new form of budgeting is starting to emerge. If they are correct, the we are entering into a new era with important implications for public budgeting. Although many positive results may occur with these new budget reforms, there are some negative realities that might also provide serious headaches for tomorrow’s leadership. The authors conclude by examining those implications.

INTRODUCTION

This article speculates on the likely budget reforms that will be successful in the next century and the problems that will be associated with those reforms. The first part of the article presents the last major set of budget reforms that flowed out of the Progressive and Liberal Eras and its impact on how budgeting is predominantly done today. The second part discusses some negative implications of this new type of budget reform. The article concludes with a few observations.