by Dan Mitchell | Oct 2, 2020 | Big Government, Blogs, Economics, Regulations
When I write about regulation, I mostly focus on cost-benefit analysis. Simply stated, red tape makes it more expensive for people and businesses to do things, much as adding obstacles makes it more difficult for someone to get from Point A to Point B. So a relevant...
by Dan Mitchell | Sep 21, 2020 | Big Government, Blogs, States, Taxation
If you’re a curmudgeonly libertarian like me, you don’t like big government because it impinges on individual liberty. Most people, however, get irked with government for the practical reason that it costs so much and fails to provide decent services. California is...
by Dan Mitchell | Aug 21, 2020 | Big Government, Blogs, Regulations
When I wrote yesterday that Trump’s overall rating on economic policy was “bad,” a few people wrote to complain. I did acknowledge in the column that it may be too soon to give the current president a grade, but it’s not looking good. He not only has a bad record on...
by Dan Mitchell | Aug 8, 2020 | Blogs, Economics
There are all sorts of regulations, some of which affect the entire economy and some of which target certain sectors. Moreover, regulations vary widely since – depending on the example – they may tell people and business what to do, how to do it, when to do it, and...
by Dan Mitchell | May 13, 2020 | Big Government, Blogs, Regulations
From the perspective of lifestyle (factors such as climate, scenery, and recreational opportunities), there’s probably no better state in which to live than California. But if you want to be an entrepreneur, start a business, and create jobs, the Golden State is one...