by Dan Mitchell | May 27, 2016 | Blogs, Energy
Whether they call it global warming or climate change, activists on the left are acting as if the issue is just an excuse to extort money and expand the power of government. In Part I, I wrote about kleptocrats exploiting the issue to shake down western governments...
by Dan Mitchell | Apr 19, 2016 | Blogs, Taxation
It’s that time of year. Those of us who wait until the last minute are rushing to get tax returns filed (or extensions submitted). So it’s also a good time to remind ourselves that there is a better way. Economists look at the tax system and focus on the warts that...
by Dan Mitchell | Apr 7, 2016 | Big Government, Blogs, Financial Privacy, Regulations, Tax Competition, Tax Havens, Taxation
For all his faults, you have to give President Obama credit for strong convictions. He’s generally misguided, but it’s perversely impressive to observe his relentless advocacy for higher taxes, bigger government, more intervention, and limits on constitutional...
by Dan Mitchell | Mar 25, 2016 | Blogs, Crime, Society
While I’m a big fan of federalism, this isn’t because I have a starry-eyed view of non-Washington politicians. Of course there is plenty of grotesque misbehavior by state and local governments. And it’s most troubling when it involves law enforcement and the legal...
by Dan Mitchell | Mar 14, 2016 | Big Government, Blogs
I’m a big fan of Estonia. According to both the Fraser Institute and the Heritage Foundation, it has considerable economic freedom. It has a low-rate flat tax, meaning that investors, entrepreneurs, and small-business owners aren’t punished for contributing more to...