by Dan Mitchell | Mar 8, 2017 | Big Government, Blogs, Taxation
Once of the reasons that tax increases in Washington are such a bad idea (and one of the reasons why a value-added tax is an especially bad idea) is that the prospect of additional tax revenue kills any possibility of genuine entitlement reform. Simply stated,...
by Dan Mitchell | Feb 11, 2017 | Big Government, Blogs, Government Spending, Taxation
I don’t have strong views on global warming. Or climate change, or whatever it’s being called today. But I’ve generally been skeptical about government action for the simple reason that the people making the most noise are statists who would use any excuse to increase...
by Dan Mitchell | Feb 7, 2017 | Big Government, Blogs, Government Spending, Taxation
I’ve put forth lots of arguments against tax increases, mostly focusing on why higher tax rates will depress growth and encourage more government spending. Today, let’s look at a practical, real-world example. I wrote a column for The Hill looking at why Greece...
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...