by Dan Mitchell | Dec 7, 2016 | Blogs, Economics, Taxation
Can you identify the nation with the world’s 7th-friendliest tax system according to the Index of Economic Freedom? Don’t know the answer? Well, here’s a hint. If you don’t count Middle Eastern nations that finance their governments with oil money, this is the nation...
by Dan Mitchell | Jun 2, 2016 | Blogs, Tax Competition, Taxation
I wonder whether October 3, 1913, was the worst day in American history. That’s when one of America’s worst presidents signed into law the income tax. The top rate was only 7 percent when Woodrow Wilson approved the income tax, and the tax only applied to the very...
by Dan Mitchell | Apr 26, 2016 | Blogs, States, Taxation
Just like with nations, there are many factors that determine whether a state is hindering or enabling economic growth. But I’m very drawn to one variable, which is whether there’s a state income tax. If the answer is no, then it’s quite likely that it will enjoy...
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 6, 2016 | Big Government, Blogs, Economics, Flat Tax, Government Spending, Tax Competition, Taxation
There’s no agreement on the most important variable for state tax competitiveness. You could make a strong case that it is the overall share of income taken by politicians in the state. Or you could argue that the tax system for employers is the key metric. And the...
