by Dan Mitchell | Jan 31, 2017 | Blogs, Taxation
In one of my periodic attempts to create themes for these columns, I developed a “fiscal fights with friends” category. Part I was a response to Riehan Salam’s well-meaning critique of the flat tax. Part II was a response to a good-but-timid fiscal plan from folks at...
by Dan Mitchell | Jan 14, 2017 | Blogs, Economics, Supply Side, Taxation
I don’t like tax increases, but I like having additional evidence that higher tax rates change behavior. So when my leftist friends “win” by imposing tax hikes, I try to make lemonade out of lemons by pointing out “supply-side” effects. Such as the big drop in soda...
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 | Nov 16, 2016 | Blogs, Economics, Flat Tax, Taxation
I’m a big fan of the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. These three countries emerged from the collapse of the Soviet Empire and they have taken advantage of their independence to become successful market-driven economies. One key to their relative...
by Dan Mitchell | Nov 5, 2016 | Blogs, Economics, Laffer Curve, Taxation
I know exactly how Ronald Reagan must have felt back in 1980 when he famously said “There you go again” to Jimmy Carter during their debate. That’s because I endlessly have to deal with critics who try to undercut the Laffer Curve by claiming that it’s based on the...
