Recent articles by Justin Marlowe from governing.com http://www.governing.com/authors/rss/rss/?a=167192465 Justin Marlowe is an associate professor at the Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington, specializing in government financial management and fiscal policy, and is a Senior Fellow with the GOVERNING Institute. The Murky Muni Market in the Post-Detroit Bankruptcy Era http://www.governing.com/columns/public-money/col-murky-muni-market.html State and local governments need to change how they tell their story. Do Cities Actually Save Money When They Merge? http://www.governing.com/columns/public-money/col-do-city-consolidations-actually-save-money.html There are benefits in city consolidations, but the payback may not be financial. What’s the Point of Rainy Day Funds? http://www.governing.com/columns/public-money/colpoint-of-rainy-day-funds.html States and localities both save for unseen emergencies and hard times. But when it comes to using the funds, their approach couldn't be more different. How to Talk About Tax Expenditures http://www.governing.com/columns/public-money/col-how-to-talk-about-tax-expenditures.html There are ways to take some of the partisan heat out of the discussion. Muni Bonds' Future May Lie in Foreign Investors' Hands http://www.governing.com/columns/public-money/col-muni-bonds-future-in-foreign-investors-hands.html Foreign investors matter to the municipal bond market for two reasons. Are We Asking Our Finance Officers to Do the Impossible? http://www.governing.com/columns/public-money/col-finance-officers-risk-management-tools-political-problems.html We’re trying to use financial risk-management tools to solve political problems. That’s putting the people who manage public money in a tenuous position.