Redirection in Georgia: A New Type of Budget Reform

Abstract

The budgeting reform literature is replete with examples of reforms such as performance budgeting, program budgeting, and zero-base budgeting that have failed to achieve their stated goals. This article analyzes a new budgetary reform that has been introduced in the state of Georgia, which appears to be accomplishing what its proponents have pronounced. This reform is known as redirection. The article defines redirection, explains how it works, and shows that redirection has enabled budget actors to reset budgetary priorities and reduce agency acquisitiveness, at least in its first 2 years in operation.