[markvdb]

Why would you, if in good times you can enlarge your own budget/headcount/importance/... just by increasing budget no questions asked, that's a safer way ahead. You risk devaluing your own position in the company for an uncertain gain...

[markvdb]

I was obviously being slightly sarcastic. I wouldn't want to personally work that way. I do believe that might be quite an effective strategy if one's goal were climbint the corporate ladder.