by Dan Mitchell | Feb 25, 2022 | Big Government, Blogs, Europe, Government Spending, Taxation, Welfare and Entitlements
When I compare the United States and Europe, it’s usually because I want to make the point that people on the other side of the Atlantic have lower living standards in large part because there is a more onerous fiscal burden of government. Simply...
by Dan Mitchell | Feb 20, 2022 | Big Government, Blogs, Government Spending
The United States needs a constitutional spending cap, sort of like the “debt brake” that has been producing positive results in Switzerland for the past two decades. Imposing a limit on annual spending increases would be a much-needed...
by Dan Mitchell | Feb 19, 2022 | Big Government, Blogs, Government Spending
Is “austerity” a good thing? Depends on how it is defined. Johan Norberg points out that spending restraint is the right approach. Since I’m a fan of spending restraint, I obviously like the video. But let’s expand on two points. First, the definition of...
by Dan Mitchell | Feb 12, 2022 | Blogs, Economics, Laffer Curve, Taxation
The Laffer Curve is a method for illustrating the relationship between tax rates, taxable income, and tax revenue. But it’s important to realize that there are actually lots of varieties. The Laffer Curve for capital gains taxes, for instance, will...
by Dan Mitchell | Feb 10, 2022 | Big Government, Blogs, Government Spending
I’ve repeatedly heaped praise on Ronald Reagan. I’ve also lauded Calvin Coolidge on several occasions. And I even once extolled the virtues of Grover Cleveland. Today, we’re going to celebrate the fiscal achievements...
