by Dan Mitchell | Sep 28, 2018 | Blogs, States, Taxation
Yesterday, I wrote about the newest edition of Economic Freedom of the World, which is my favorite annual publication. Not far behind is the Tax Foundation’s State Business Tax Climate Index, which is sort of the domestic version of their equally fascinating (to a...
by Dan Mitchell | Sep 12, 2018 | Blogs, Economics, Taxation
If the goal is higher living standards, then higher levels of productivity are necessary. And that requires entrepreneurship and innovation. But bad tax policy can be an obstacle to the economic choices that create a better future. I’ve already shared lots of...
by Dan Mitchell | Jul 14, 2018 | Blogs, States, Taxation
The best budget rule in the United States is Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights. Known as TABOR, this provision in the state’s constitution says revenues can’t grow faster than population plus inflation. Any revenue greater than that amount must be returned to...
by Dan Mitchell | Jul 2, 2018 | Big Government, Blogs, Taxation
New Jersey is a fiscal disaster area. It’s in last place in the Tax Foundation’s index that measures a state’s business tax climate. It’s tied for last place in the Mercatus Center’s ranking of state fiscal conditions. And it ranks in the bottom-10 in measures...
by Dan Mitchell | Jun 13, 2018 | Big Government, Blogs, Government Spending, States
A balanced budget requirement is neither necessary nor sufficient for good fiscal policy. If you want proof for that assertion, check out states such as Illinois, California, and New Jersey. They all have provisions to limit red ink, yet there is more spending (and...
