Coined by fiscal conservatives, the term starve the beast became a popular metaphor for using tax cuts to reduce waste and profligacy in government spending. Although starve-the-beast theory still has reputable adherents, the growth of spending and deficits even in the face of large tax cuts has worn down at least some of its former supporters.
Starve the Beast
Origins and Development of a Budgetary Metaphor
By Bruce Bartlett
This
article
appeared in
the Summer 2007 issue of The Independent Review.