by Dan Mitchell | Jul 25, 2019 | Blogs, Economics, Free Market
I’ve applauded China’s economic progress. It’s economic liberty score jumped from 3.64 in 1980 to 6.46 in the most recent edition of Economic Freedom of the World. That shift toward markets (which started in a village) helped to dramatically reduce poverty and turn...
by Dan Mitchell | Jul 23, 2019 | Big Government, Economics, Taxation, Welfare and Entitlements
I’m not a big fan of the current tax system. I’m also not supportive of America’s bankrupt Social Security system. The country would be much better off with fundamental reform of both the tax system and Social Security. Some groups will be reap especially large...
by Dan Mitchell | Jul 18, 2019 | Blogs, Economics, Health Care, Taxation
When I followed public policy in my younger days, I periodically would see stories about legislation that was approved by the House of Representatives with only one dissenting vote. My memory isn’t perfect, I’m sure, but it seems that Ron Paul was always that lonely...
by Dan Mitchell | Jul 16, 2019 | Blogs, Economics
One of the few theoretical constraints on Washington is that politicians periodically have to raise a “debt ceiling” or “debt limit” in order to finance additional spending with additional red ink. I have mixed feelings about this requirement. I like that there is...
by Dan Mitchell | Jul 12, 2019 | Blogs, Economics
I’ve just finished up a week of teaching at Northeastern University in Shenyang, China. I mostly taught public finance and explained issues such as marginal tax rates, double taxation, the Rahn Curve, the Laffer Curve, and the fiscal implications of demographic...