by Dan Mitchell | Sep 7, 2015 | Blogs, Economics, States, Tax Competition, Taxation
Here’s a quiz for readers. When politicians increase taxes, the result is: a) More spending? b) More red ink? c) Fewer jobs? d) Out-migration of productive taxpayers? e) Reduced competitiveness? f) Less investment? g) A bigger underground economy? h) More corruption?...
by Dan Mitchell | Sep 5, 2015 | Blogs, Immigration, Society, Taxation
In most cases, I can understand why immigration is a controversial issue. Take amnesty, for instance. Opponents make reasonable points about the downside of rewarding folks who cut in line while supporters make reasonable points about deportation being harsh and...
by Dan Mitchell | May 22, 2015 | Blogs, Economics, Immigration, Society
I can understand why immigration reform is so contentious since it touches on all sorts of hot-button issues, such as jobs, politics, national identity, and the welfare state. But I don’t understand why there’s a controversy just because Governor Walker of Wisconsin...
by Dan Mitchell | Mar 29, 2015 | Big Government, Blogs
As an economist, my primary objection to excessive government is – or at least should be – based on foregone growth. After all, government spending (whether it is financed by taxes or borrowing) diverts resources from the productive sector of society and results in...
by Dan Mitchell | Mar 18, 2015 | Big Government, Blogs, Welfare and Entitlements
Sweden is an odd country, at least from the perspective of public policy. On the positive side, it has private Social Security accounts. It has an admirable school choice system. And it was a good role model of spending restraint back in the 1990s. But on the negative...
