Fiscal policy is where political theory and ideology intersect with the everyday practice of governance, and, ultimately, the economics of budget constraints. Legislators have to make practical decisions on how much to spend, how to allocate this spending, which activities and citizens to tax and at what rates. The public debate usually appeals to broad principles – the appropriate role of government in the economy, the dangers of distorting market signals, and the balance between efficiency and equity – with positions reflecting ideological predilections.