Targeting longer-term measures like generational accounts is further complicated by the fact that the estimates would be affected by promises to raise taxes or cut spending far off in the future. These very long-term calculations may be subject to a great deal of budgetary sleight of hand.
Indeed, even the five- and ten-year targets currently used in the budget process have already been subject to considerable budget sleight of hand. Most important, I am skeptical of the view that more information, as desirable as it is, would alone lead to greater budget discipline.