I’ve already shared a bunch of data and evidence on the importance of low tax rates. A review of the academic evidence by the Tax Foundation found overwhelming support for the notion that lower tax rates are good for growth. An economist from Cornell found lower tax…
Daily Analysis
An Italian Doctor Joins the Bureaucrat Hall of Fame
In April of 2013, I introduced a Moocher Hall of Fame to “celebrate” some very odious examples of welfare dependency. Since that time, I keep thinking that it’s time to do something similar for government bureaucrats. This compilation from last December would be a…
Debunking the Sloppy and Inaccurate Economic Argument for Export Subsidies
The Export-Import Bank is noxiously corrupt example of crony capitalism. It never should have been created. But that’s something we could say about most government programs. So the real question is how to reverse the damage. If we reform a big program such as…
It Doesn’t Seem Possible, but France Is Going from Bad to Worse
Remember when Paul Krugman warned that there was a plot against France? He asserted that critics wanted to undermine the great success of France’s social model. I agreed with Krugman, at least in the limited sense that there is a plot against France. But I explained…
Australia’s Worrisome Fiscal Drift
I’m in Australia for Consilium, an annual conference which is hosted by the Centre for Independent Studies. I spoke on fiscal policy and pontificated on the need for nations to restrain government spending. That’s an important message (at least in my humble option),…
The Federal Bagpipe Police?!?
I’ve shared horror stories about government thuggery and I’ve shared horror stories about government stupidity. Thanks to Mark Steyn, we have a story that exemplifies both the brain-dead nature of the public sector and the nasty nature of our bureaucratic…
The Medicare Money Pit of Waste, Fraud, and Abuse
Since I primarily work on fiscal policy, I normally look at the budgetary impact of entitlement programs. And the numbers are very grim. But I’m also an economist, so I periodically comment on how government intervention undermines the efficient functioning of…
New Members of the Bureaucrat Hall of Fame…or a Great Moment in Government Waste
Which nation has the most costly bureaucracy? Well, if the answer is based solely on how much it costs to employ bureaucrats, you can see from this chart that Denmark comes in first place. As an American taxpayer, I’m glad to learn that there are other nations that…
Social Security’s Looming Fiscal Nightmare
With all the controversy over the failed and costly Obamacare program, it’s understandable that other entitlements aren’t getting much attention. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t serious problems with Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security. Indeed, the…
What Happens When Libertarian Fantasies Become Reality?
No, this post is not about that kind of fantasy. Instead, we’re dealing strictly with public policy and specifically addressing whether the libertarian agenda is unrealistic. This is because when I talk to people about libertarianism, they often will say something…