by Dan Mitchell | Jan 27, 2020 | Big Government, Blogs, Economics, Government Spending, Taxation
About 10 years ago, the Center for Freedom and Prosperity released this video to explain that America’s real fiscal problem is too much spending and that red ink is best viewed as a symptom of that problem. I wrote a primer on this issue two years ago, but I want to...
by Dan Mitchell | Jan 23, 2020 | Big Government, Blogs, Economics
Back in 2010, I wrote about the absurd contention, promoted by some advocates of Keynesian economics, that wars are good for prosperity. According to this crackpot theory, destroying wealth is a net positive because people then have to spend money to rebuild. Now this...
by Dan Mitchell | Jan 17, 2020 | Blogs, Economics, Free Market
I’ve always been puzzled by those who criticize capitalism (“it’s unfair!” and “it’s coercive!”) and urge its overthrow or replacement. I actually agree with them that markets can be harsh, especially in the short run (think of the damage to the typewriter industry...
by Dan Mitchell | Jan 14, 2020 | Blogs, Economics, States, Tax Competition, Taxation
I wrote last week about the ongoing shift of successful people from high-tax states to low-tax states. And I’ve periodically confirmed this trend by doing comparisons of high-profile states, such as Texas vs. California and Florida vs. New York. Today, I’m going to...
by Dan Mitchell | Jan 6, 2020 | Big Government, Blogs, Economics
Just as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, there are some consistent patterns with government. Politicians, for instance, will enact a policy that distorts the economy and causes damage (with regards to trade, bailouts, guns, health, whatever). And...