Science, Tech, Math › Social Sciences Definition of Budget Share Flipboard Email Print Martin Barraud / Getty Images Social Sciences Economics Basics U.S. Economy Employment Production Supply & Demand Psychology Sociology Archaeology Environment Ergonomics Maritime by Econterms Updated March 27, 2017 Definition: A budget is a description of a financial plan. It is a list of estimates of revenues to and expenditures by an agent for a stated period of time. Normally a budget describes a period in the future, not the past. Terms related to Budgets: Budget LineBudget SetBalanced Budget Resources on Budgets: Budget Lines and Indifference CurvesWhy Do Government Budget Deficits Grow During Recessions?U.S. Budget Deficit - Five Key Questions Writing a Term Paper? Here are a few starting points for research on Budgets: Books on Budgets: Economic Effects of the Government BudgetAlleged Budget Surplus, Social Security, & Voodoo EconomicsEconomics: Government, Budget, Deficit & Trade Policy Journal Articles on Budgets: Economic and political determinants of budget deficits in developing countriesEquilibrium Political Budget CyclesThe Ricardian approach to budget deficits Continue Reading