Related GAO Products

Financial Reports of the U.S. Government

The Long-Term Fiscal Outlook

  • The Nation's Long-Term Fiscal Outlook: September 2008 Update, GAO-09-94R (November 6, 2008)
  • Long-Term Fiscal Outlook: Long-Term Federal Fiscal Challenge Driven Primarily by Health Care, GAO-08-912T (June 17, 2008)
  • The Nation's Long-Term Fiscal Outlook: April 2008 Update, GAO-08-783R (May 2008)
  • The Nation's Long-Term Fiscal Outlook: January 2008 Update (GAO-08-591R, March 2008)
  • Long-term Fiscal Outlook: Action is Needed to Avoid the Possibility of a Serious Economic Disruption in the Future, GAO-08-411T, January 29, 2008.
  • State and Local Governments: Growing Fiscal Challenges Will Emerge during the Next 10 Years, GAO-08-317, January 2008.
  • Long-Term Fiscal Challenge: Comments on the Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action Act, GAO-08-238T (October 31, 2007).
  • The Nation's Long-Term Fiscal Outlook: August 2007 Update, GAO-07-1261R (September 2007).
  • Long-Term Fiscal Challenge: Additional Transparency and Controls Are Needed, GAO-07-1144T (July 25, 2007).
  • State and Local Governments: Persistent Fiscal Challenges Will Likely Emerge within the Next Decade, GAO-07-1080SP (July 18, 2007).
  • The Nation's Long-Term Fiscal Outlook: April 2007 Update, GAO-07-983R, GAO-07-983R (June 2007).
  • The Nation's Long-Term Fiscal Outlook: January 2007 Update, GAO-07-510R  (January 2007).
  • Fiscal Stewardship: A Critical Challenge Facing Our Nation, GAO-07-362SP (January 31, 2007).
  • Long-Term Budget Outlook: Deficits Matter--Saving Our Future Requires Tough Choices Today, GAO-07-389T (January 23, 2007).
  • Long-Term Budget Outlook: Saving Our Future Requires Tough Choices Today, GAO-07-342T (January 11, 2007).
  • Financial Audit: Bureau of the Public Debt's Fiscal Years 2006 and 2005 Schedules of Federal Debt, GAO-07-127 (November 7, 2006).
  • The Nation's Long-Term Fiscal Outlook, GAO-06-1077R (September 2006).
  • America ’s Fiscal Future, Video, 11 minutes, 19 seconds David M. Walker, Comptroller General of the United States , speaks about America ’s current financial condition and long-term fiscal outlook (June 2006).
  • Budget Process: Better Transparency, Controls, Triggers, and Default Mechanisms Would Help to Address Our Large and Growing Long-term Fiscal Challenge, GAO-06-761T (May 25, 2006).
  • National Saving: Current Saving Decisions Have Profound Implications for Our Nation's Future Well-Being, GAO-06-628T (April 6, 2006).
  • 21st Century: Addressing Long-Term Fiscal Challenges Must Include a Re-examination of Mandatory Spending, GAO-06-456T (February 15, 2006).
  • Highlights of a GAO Forum: The Long-Term Fiscal Challenge, GAO-05-282SP (February 1, 2005).
  • Budget Issues: Long-Term Fiscal Challenges, GAO-02-467T (February 27, 2002).
  • Long-Term Budget Issues: Moving from Balancing the Budget to Balancing Fiscal Risk, GAO-01-385T (February 6, 2001).
  • Budget Issues: Long-Term Fiscal Outlook, GAO/T-AIMD/OCE-98-83 (February 25, 1998).
  • Budget Issues: Analysis of Long-Term Fiscal Outlook, GAO/AIMD/OCE-98-19 (October 22, 1997).
  • Budget Issues: Deficit Reduction and the Long Term, GAO/T-AIMD-96-66 (March 13, 1996).
  • The Deficit and the Economy: An Update of Long-Term Simulations, GAO/AIMD/OCE-95-119 (April 26, 1995).
  • Budget Policy: Prompt Action Necessary to Avert Long-Term Damage to the Economy, GAO/OCG-92-2 (June 5, 1992).

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Social Security Reform

  • Social Security Reform: Greater Transparency Needed about Potential General Revenue Financing, GAO-07-213 (March 22, 2007).
  • Social Security Reform: Implications of Different Indexing Choices,  GAO-06-804  (September 14, 2006).
  • Social Security Reform: Other Countries' Experiences Provide Lessons for the United States, GAO-06-126 (October 21, 2005).
  • Social Security Reform: Considerations for Individual Account Design, GAO-05-847T (June 23, 2005).
  • Social Security Reform: Preliminary Lessons from Other Countries' Experiences, GAO-05-810T  (June 16, 2005).
  • Social Security: Societal Changes Add Challenges to Program Protections, GAO-05-706T (May 17, 2005).
  • Options for Social Security Reform, GAO-05-649R (May 6, 2005).
  • Social Security Reform: Answers to Key Questions, GAO-05-193SP (May 2, 2005).
  • Social Security Reform: Early Action Would be Prudent, GAO-05-397T (March 9, 2005).
  • Long Term Fiscal Issues: The Need for Social Security Reform, GAO-05-318T (February 9, 2005).
  • Social Security: Long-Term Challenges Warrant Early Action, GAO-05-303T (February 3, 2005).
  • Social Security: Distribution of Benefits and Taxes Relative to Earnings Level, GAO-04-747 (June 15, 2004).
  • Social Security: Reform Proposals Could Have a Variety of Effects on Distribution of Benefits and Payroll Taxes, GAO-04-872T (June 15, 2004).
  • Social Security Reform: Analysis of a Trust Fund Exhaustion Scenario, GAO-03-907 (July 29, 2003).
  • Social Security Reform: Analysis of a Trust Fund Exhaustion Scenario Illustrates the Difficult Choices and the Need for Early Action, GAO-03-1038T (July 29, 2003).
  • Social Security Reform: Analysis of Reform Models Developed by the President’s Commission to Strengthen Social Security, GAO-03-310 (January 15, 2003).
  • Social Security: Analysis of Issues and Selected Reform Proposals, GAO-03-376T (January 15, 2003).
  • Social Security: Long-Term Financing Shortfall Drives Need for Reform, GAO-02-845T (June 19, 2002).
  • Social Security Financing: Implications of Stock Investing for the Trust Fund, the Federal Budget, and the Economy, GAO/T-AIMD/HEHS-98-152 (April 22, 1998).
  • Social Security Financing: Implications of Government Stock Investing for the Trust Fund, the Federal Budget, and the Economy, GAO/AIMD/HEHS-98-74 (April 22, 1998).
  • Additional GAO Products on Social Security Reform

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Medicare Reform

  • Highlights of a Forum: Health Care 20 Years From Now--Taking Steps Today to Meet Tomorrow's Challenges, GAO-07-1155SP (September 7, 2007).
  • Medicare: Financial Challenges and Considerations for Reform, GAO-03-577T (April 10, 2003).
  • Medicare: Observations on Program Sustainability and Strategies to Control Spending on Any Proposed Drug Benefit, GAO-03-650T (April 9, 2003).
  • Medicare Reform: Modernization Requires Comprehensive Program View, GAO-01-862T (June 14, 2001).
  • Medicare Reform: Issues Associated with General Revenue Financing, GAO/T-AIMD-00-126 (March 27, 2000).
  • Additional GAO Products on Medicare Reform

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New Metrics, Mechanisms, and Processes for Long-Term Commitments

  • Entitlement Reform Process: Other Countries' Experiences Provide Useful Insights for the United States, GAO-08-372 (January 18, 2008).
  • Budget Issues: Accrual Budgeting Useful in Certain Areas but Does Not Provide Sufficient Information for Reporting On Our Nation's Longer-Term Fiscal Challenge (GAO-08-206, December 20, 2007).
  • Mandatory Spending: Using Budget Triggers to Constrain Growth, GAO-06-276 (January 31, 2006).
  • Budget Process: Long-term Focus Is Critical, GAO-04-585T (March 23, 2004).
  • Budget Process: Extending Budget Controls, GAO-02-682T (April 25, 2002).
  • Fiscal Exposures: Improving the Budgetary Focus on Long-Term Costs and Uncertainties, GAO-03-213 (January 24, 2003).
  • Long-Term Commitments: Improving the Budgetary Focus on Environmental Liabilities GAO-03-219 (January 24, 2003).
  • Accrual Budgeting: Experiences of Other Nations and Implications for the United States, GAO/AIMD-00-57 (February 18, 2000).
  • Budget Issues: Budgeting for Federal Insurance Programs, GAO/T-AIMD-98-147 (April 23, 1998).
  • Budget Issues: Budgeting for Federal Insurance Programs, GAO/AIMD-97-16 (September 20, 1997).

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Re-examining the Base

  • Government Performance and Accountability: Tax Expenditures Represent a Substantial Federal Commitment and Need to Be Reexamined, GAO-05-690 (September 23, 2005).
  • 21st Century Challenges: Reexamining the Base of the Federal Government, GAO-05-352T (February 16, 2005).
  • Long-Term Fiscal Issues: Increasing Transparency and Reexamining the Base of the Federal Budget, GAO-05-317T (February 8, 2005).
  • 21st Century Challenges: Reexamining the Base of the Federal Government, GAO-05-325SP (February 1, 2005).
  • Opportunities for Congressional Oversight and Improved Use of Taxpayer Funds: Budgetary Implications of Selected GAO Work, GAO-04-649 (May 7, 2004).
  • Opportunities for Oversight and Improved Use of Taxpayer Funds: Examples from Selected GAO Work, GAO-03-1006 (August 1, 2003).

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Primers and Reference Guides

  • Understanding Similarities and Differences between Accrual and Cash Deficits: Update for Fiscal Year 2007, GAO-08-410SP January 31, 2008
    Note: updates selected information in Understanding Similarities and Differences between Accrual and Cash Deficits (GAO-07-117SP) and should be read in conjunction with that document.
  • Understanding Similarities and Differences between Accrual and Cash Deficits: Update for Fiscal Year 2006, GAO-07-341SP  (January 22, 2007).
  • Understanding the Similarities and Differences between Accrual and Cash Deficits, GAO-07-117SP (December 1, 2006).
  • A Glossary of Terms in the Federal Budget Process, GAO-05-734SP (September 2005).
  • Understanding the Tax Reform Debate: Background, Criteria, & Questions, GAO-05-1009SP (September 2005).
  • Social Security Reform: Answers to Key Questions, GAO-05-193SP (May 2, 2005).
  • Federal Debt: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions: An Update, GAO-04-485SP (August 12, 2004).
  • Answers to Key Questions About Private Pension Plans, GAO-02-745SP (September 18, 2002).
  • National Saving: Answers to Key Questions, GAO-01-591SP (June 2001).
  • Federal Trust and Other Earmarked Funds: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions, GAO-01-199SP (January 2001).

The Fiscal Outlook  [back to top]