15.2.3 Berne and Schramm
Perhaps the only textbook in recent memory entirely devoted to the topic of
governmental financial analysis is Berne and Schramm’s The Financial
Analysis of Governments (1986), though it is long out of print. As a textbook,
it takes a more theoretical approach to developing a framework and
methods for analyzing government finances. Consequently, it is less practical
as a ready assessment tool than the documents already discussed.
Nonetheless, it is instructive in the factors it emphasizes as important to
understanding the financial health of a government and in its thorough
consideration of how to examine each.
Berne and Schramm define financial condition simply as ‘‘the probability
that a government will meet its financial obligations.’’ Financial condition
is the product of available resources, on the one hand, and expenditure
pressures, on the other. In addition to current expenditure pressures from
constituent demands for certain quantities and qualities of service and
intergovernmental mandates, governments are subject to expenditure pressures
from past decisions and commitments. The resources available to a
government are a combination of internal resources that can be converted
into cash with varying degrees of difficulty and external resources that can
be tapped.
The availability of external resources is ascertained through revenue
analysis, which entails an examination of the community’s economic base,
the government’s revenue base, actual revenues, and revenue capacity and
reserves. Current expenditure pressures are considered via expenditure
analysis, which includes a review of actual expenditures by purpose over
time, assessment of the effects of input prices, exploration of the relationship
between inputs and service outputs, and comparisons of the foregoing
information with community needs in light of production and service
conditions. Analyses of outstanding debt and unfunded pensions liabilities
provide information about the expenditure pressures of past commitments,
and generally involve looking at debt structures, burdens, and affordability,
as well as the funding status of pension. Lastly, internal resource analysis
involves examinations of liquidity and cash flows, and fund balances and
other balance sheet accounts.
Practical applications of Berne and Schramm’s paradigm may be found
in the financial condition analyses performed for Ambac, a bond insurance
company, by Berne and Drennan (1985, 1987a, and 1987b). Their analyses
of the fiscal and economic condition of the states of New York, California,
and Texas are substantially based on the approach outlined in the textbook.
Together, these documents foreshadow Berne’s conclusions in a
research report written for GASB (1992) and a subsequent book chapter
(Berne, 1996).
15.2.3 Berne and SchrammPerhaps the only textbook in recent memory entirely devoted to the topic ofgovernmental financial analysis is Berne and Schramm’s The FinancialAnalysis of Governments (1986), though it is long out of print. As a textbook,it takes a more theoretical approach to developing a framework andmethods for analyzing government finances. Consequently, it is less practicalas a ready assessment tool than the documents already discussed.Nonetheless, it is instructive in the factors it emphasizes as important tounderstanding the financial health of a government and in its thoroughconsideration of how to examine each.Berne and Schramm define financial condition simply as ‘‘the probabilitythat a government will meet its financial obligations.’’ Financial conditionis the product of available resources, on the one hand, and expenditurepressures, on the other. In addition to current expenditure pressures fromconstituent demands for certain quantities and qualities of service andintergovernmental mandates, governments are subject to expenditure pressuresfrom past decisions and commitments. The resources available to agovernment are a combination of internal resources that can be convertedinto cash with varying degrees of difficulty and external resources that canbe tapped.The availability of external resources is ascertained through revenueanalysis, which entails an examination of the community’s economic base,the government’s revenue base, actual revenues, and revenue capacity andreserves. Current expenditure pressures are considered via expenditureanalysis, which includes a review of actual expenditures by purpose overtime, assessment of the effects of input prices, exploration of the relationshipbetween inputs and service outputs, and comparisons of the foregoinginformation with community needs in light of production and serviceconditions. Analyses of outstanding debt and unfunded pensions liabilitiesprovide information about the expenditure pressures of past commitments,and generally involve looking at debt structures, burdens, and affordability,as well as the funding status of pension. Lastly, internal resource analysisinvolves examinations of liquidity and cash flows, and fund balances andother balance sheet accounts.Practical applications of Berne and Schramm’s paradigm may be foundin the financial condition analyses performed for Ambac, a bond insurancecompany, by Berne and Drennan (1985, 1987a, and 1987b). Their analysesof the fiscal and economic condition of the states of New York, California,and Texas are substantially based on the approach outlined in the textbook.Together, these documents foreshadow Berne’s conclusions in aresearch report written for GASB (1992) and a subsequent book chapter(Berne, 1996).
การแปล กรุณารอสักครู่..
