by Dan Mitchell | Sep 30, 2012 | Blogs, Economics, States, Taxation
I have a handful of simple rules for good tax policy. Keep government small, since it’s impossible to have a reasonable tax system with a bloated welfare state. Keep tax rates low to minimize penalties against income, production, and wealth creation. Since capital...
by Dan Mitchell | Aug 12, 2012 | Blogs, Economics, Tax Competition, Taxation
In previous posts, I put together tutorials on the Laffer Curve, tax competition, and the economics of government spending. Today, we’re going to look at the issue of tax reform. The focus will be the flat tax, but this analysis applies equally to national sales tax...
by Dan Mitchell | Jul 18, 2012 | Blogs, Economics, Laffer Curve, Tax Competition, Taxation
Thanks largely to the Laffer Curve, there are some impressive examples of failed tax increases in countries such as the United States, France, and the United Kingdom. But if there was a prize for the people who most vociferously resist turning over more of their...
by Dan Mitchell | May 15, 2012 | Blogs, Europe, Tax Competition, Taxation
I wrote last year about a tax protest in Ireland, and I wrote earlier this year about a tax revolt in Greece. But Irish and Greek taxpayers are wimps compared to their Italian compatriots. When Italians decide to have a tax revolt, they don’t kid around. Here are some...
by Brian Garst | Apr 16, 2012 | Blogs, Taxation
It’s almost that dreaded time of year again: Tax Day. As if reaching deep into our wallets to fund profligate government spending isn’t bad enough, Americans also bear a tremendous hidden cost just to comply with the tax code. At over 3.8 million words,...
