by Dan Mitchell | Jun 14, 2015 | Big Government, Blogs, Economics, Tax Competition, Taxation, Welfare and Entitlements
One would think that Europeans might finally be realizing that an ever-growing welfare state and an ever-rising tax burden are a form of economic suicide. The most obvious bit of evidence is to look at what’s happening in Greece. Simply stated, public policy for too...
by Dan Mitchell | May 31, 2015 | Big Government, Blogs, Europe, Society, Welfare and Entitlements
When I write about the “suicidal” welfare state in Europe, I’m generally making an economic argument that involves demographic change, labor participation rates, and fiscal burdens. And that’s a non-trivial argument, based on very sobering data from the Bank for...
by Dan Mitchell | Apr 18, 2015 | Big Government, Blogs, Economics, Government Spending
I don’t know whether to be impressed or horrified by Paul Krugman. I’m impressed that he’s always “on message.” No matter what’s happening in America or around the world, he always has some sort of story about why events show the need for bigger government. But I’m...
by Dan Mitchell | Feb 18, 2015 | Bailouts, Big Government, Blogs, Economics, Government Spending
There’s a big fiscal battle happening in Europe. The relatively new Greek government is demanding continued handouts from the rest of Europe, but it wants to renege on at least some of the country’s prior commitments to improve economic performance by reducing the...
by Dan Mitchell | Jan 17, 2015 | Big Government, Blogs, Economics, Europe, Welfare and Entitlements
In my younger years, I oftentimes would have arguments with statists who wanted me to believe that countries in Northern Europe like Sweden “proved” that generous welfare states were compatible with economic prosperity. That doesn’t happen as often today because the...
