Institutional structures utilized in state revenue forecasting

Approaches taken by states in their revenue forecasting are extremely diverse. This research identifies six institutional structures that states utilize in their revenue forecasting processes. The results show that the ‘typical’ state utilizes a non-consensual approach to forecast formulation with the forecast being done by a single executive agency or cabinet office and with the executive having the final say in the forecast. The ‘typical’ state will not have an economic advisory council, but will utilize faculty from local universities. The ‘typical’ state updates its forecast about every six months and the forecasters perceive their forecast as binding the state budget.