by Dan Mitchell | Jan 29, 2026 | Blogs, Economics, Laffer Curve, Taxation
Unless you’re a policy wonk, I realize “exciting” may not be the right word to describe new developments in public-finance economics. For nerds, however, three economists at the Joint Committee on Taxation have some important new research on the Laffer...
by Dan Mitchell | Jan 28, 2026 | Blogs, Economics, Taxation, Welfare and Entitlements
Every year or so, I share data showing that a European-sized welfare state requires massive tax increases on lower-income and middle-class household. Let’s add another to the list. Here’s a chart comparing tax burdens on middle-class Americans and middle-class people...
by Dan Mitchell | Jan 25, 2026 | Blogs, Economic Growth, Europe
About five years ago, I fretted about the gradual erosion of economic liberty in Western Europe. And I followed up two years ago with similar analysis, grousing that the entire western world was joining Western Europe in the drift toward more...
by Dan Mitchell | Jan 23, 2026 | Blogs, Economics, Taxation
Given my libertarian sensibilities, I think people who earn money deserve to keep as much of their income as possible. At least 90 percent. Given my economic training, I think people who earn money should get to keep as much of their income as possible because I...
by Dan Mitchell | Jan 20, 2026 | Blogs, Economics, Regulations, Trade
Back in 2017, I graded Trump’s first 100 days and I followed in 2018 by grading his first year. So let’s grade the first year of Trump’s encore presidency and we’ll start with this report card. As you can see, I’m only grading Trump’s economic...