The Disinvestment of Government

This article, which appeared in the GAO Journal, No. 4, Winter 1988, discusses the consequences of the United States' failure to invest in key government operations. GAO noted that this failure: (1) undercuts the government's ability to provide services; (2) affects U.S. dealings with other nations in trade, diplomacy, law enforcement, and defense; and (3) adversely affects the business community. Problems in defense, tax collection, thrift industry regulation, and transportation reflect a pattern of increased difficulty in finding solutions to problems because of postponed decisions, neglect, or poor management. The deficit has fueled these problems by shortchanging the investment required to efficiently maintain government operations.