Since 1965 a significant portion of the US Department of Agriculture's extramural research budget has been earmarked by Congress for particular research projects. We analyze the process by which a minority of Congress induces the USDA to carry out its budgetary suggestions. We present evidence...

Economists have devoted relatively little attention to analyzing how government officials actually enforce regulation. This is a significant omission since the efficacy of regulatory enforcement and the effects of regulation on economic outcomes may depend on how regulators regulate. This paper...

Since 1965 a significant portion of the USDA's extramural research budget has been directly earmarked by Congress for particular research projects. We analyze the process by which a minority of Congress, specifically members of the House and Senate Agricultural Appropriations Subcommittees,...