by Dan Mitchell | Aug 8, 2018 | Blogs, Economics
I often discuss the importance of long-run growth and I pontificate endlessly about the policies that will produce better economic performance. But what about short-term fluctuations? Where are we in the so-called business cycle? I don’t think economists are good at...
by Dan Mitchell | Aug 7, 2018 | Big Government, Blogs, Welfare and Entitlements
The United States has a bankrupt Social Security system. According to the most recent Trustees Report, the cash-flow deficit is approaching $44 trillion. And that’s after adjusting for inflation. Even by DC standards of profligacy, that’s a big number. Yet all that...
by Dan Mitchell | Aug 5, 2018 | Big Government, Blogs, Energy, Regulations
I don’t like the tribal nature of American politics, in part because I get criticized for not playing the game. The pro-Trump crowd goes after me when I condemn the President’s protectionism and wasteful spending. And the anti-Trump crowd goes after me when I applaud...
by Dan Mitchell | Aug 4, 2018 | Big Government, Blogs
Since I focus on public finance, I think California is crazy because of punitive taxes and reckless spending policies. But I can understand why other people think California is crazy, period. This is a state, after all, where politicians come up with bizarre ideas...
by Dan Mitchell | Aug 3, 2018 | Big Government, Blogs, Welfare and Entitlements
Last September, I shared some very encouraging data showing how extreme poverty dramatically has declined in the developing world. And I noted that this progress happened during a time when the “Washington Consensus” was resulting in “neoliberal” policies (meaning...
