Limited Government

Limiting the size of government serves the dual purposes of protecting individual freedom and promoting economic growth. Governments that are too big burden economies with excessive taxes and regulations.

Additional Resources:

Downsizing the Federal Government
Americans for Limited Government
Milton Friedman makes the case for limited government (video)
Cato research on limited government.
James A Kahn, “Can we determine the optimal size of government?” Center for Global Liberty & Prosperity Development Briefing Paper no. 7, Cato Institute, September 14, 2011.
Jason Richwine, Ph.D., “Same Worker, Higher Wages: A Study of Workers Who Switch from Private to Federal Employment,” Center for Data Analysis Report #11-02, Heritage Foundation, June 15, 2011.
Clyde Wayne Crews Jr., “Ten Thousand Commandments: An Annual Snapshot of the Federal Regulatory State,” 2011 Edition, Competitive Enterprise Institute.
Ryan Messmore, “Does Advocating Limited Government Mean Abandoning the Poor?” Backgrounder #2551, Heritage Foundation, May 4, 2011.
Robert Moffit, “How to Roll Back the Administrative State,” Center for Policy Innovation Discussion Paper #1, Heritage Foundation, February 17, 2011.
James Gattuso, Diane Katz, and Stephen Keen, “Red Tape Rising: Obama’s Torrent of New Regulation,” Backgrounder #2482, Heritage Foundation, October 26, 2010.
John Samples, “Limiting Government: 1980-2010,” Cato Policy Report, March/April 2010.
Gary Lawson, “Limited Government, Unlimited Administration: Is it Possible to Restore Constitutionalism?” First Principles Series Report #23, Heritage Foundation, January 27, 2009.

New CF&P “Economics 101” Video Highlights Key Lessons From European Fiscal Crisis

November 16, 2011

The latest “Economics 101″ video released today by the Center for Freedom and Prosperity Foundation (CF&P), narrated by Silvia Morandotti, a student at The University of Milan, draws upon the European sovereign debt turmoil to provide timely lessons for US policymakers. Entitled, “The European Fiscal Crisis and Lessons for America,” the video puts a spotlight on the ongoing crack-up of the Eurozone, and explains how the United States can avoid a similar fate.

The European Fiscal Crisis and Lessons for America

November 16, 2011

Many European welfare states have been caught in a downward spiral of taxes, spending, and debt. This mini-documentary from the Center for Freedom and Prosperity identifies key lessons for policymakers seeking to avoid the inevitable fiscal crisis caused by the welfare state.

Government-Run Health Care Means Higher Deficits and Debt: Realistic Assumptions Show 10-Year Deficits Easily Could Exceed $600 Billion

November 16, 2009

The proposals on Capitol Hill will make government more expensive and increase deficits. Government programs almost always cost more than the preliminary estimates, and projections for healthcare spending have been notoriously inaccurate. Moreover, tax increases will not collect as much revenue as politicians want because of “Laffer Curve” effects. Last but not least, the promised spending restraint is a farce. If congressional forecasts are modified to be more realistic, deficits and debt will climb by at least $600 billion – and perhaps more than $850 billion – over the next 10 years.

The Global Flat Tax Revolution: Lessons for Policy Makers

February 1, 2008

Atleast 24 nations have adopted some form of single-rate tax regime. These reforms have generated impressive results, including faster growth, more jobs, and increased competitiveness. While politicians generally are most concerned about losing tax revenue, they should not worry. Flat tax systems oftentimes generate higher tax revenues because of more income and better compliance.