by Dan Mitchell | Jan 28, 2013 | Big Government, Blogs, Government Spending
Much to the horror of various interest groups, it appears that there will be a “sequester” on March 1. This means an automatic reduction in spending authority for selected programs (interest payments are exempt, as are most entitlement outlays). Just about everybody...
by Dan Mitchell | Jan 27, 2013 | Big Government, Blogs, Government Spending, Government Waste
A reader sent an email to ask “Which federal department should be abolished first?” I guess this is what is meant when people talk about a target-rich environment. We have an abundance of candidates, including the Department of Education, Department of Agriculture,...
by Dan Mitchell | Jan 24, 2013 | Big Government, Blogs, Education, Government Spending, Welfare and Entitlements
What’s more realistic: A unicorn, Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, or a successful government program? This isn’t a trick question. Even though I’ve presented both theoretical and empirical arguments against government spending, that doesn’t mean every government...
by Dan Mitchell | Jan 23, 2013 | Big Government, Blogs, Economics, Government Spending
Just like in the United States, politicians in the United Kingdom use the deceptive practice of “baseline budgeting” as part of fiscal policy. This means the politicians can increase spending, but simultaneously claim they are cutting spending because the budget could...
by Dan Mitchell | Jan 21, 2013 | Uncategorized
Texas is in much better shape than California. Taxes are lower, in part because Texas has no state income tax. No wonder the Lone Star State is growing faster and creating more jobs. And the gap will soon get even wider since California voters recently decided to...