by Dan Mitchell | Jan 8, 2013 | Blogs, Economics, Taxation
There’s a debate among policy wonks about whether a no-tax-hike policy is an effective way of restraining the burden of government spending. At the risk of over-simplifying, the folks who support the “starve the beast” theory argue that there are political and/or...
by Dan Mitchell | Jan 7, 2013 | Blogs, Taxation
Just before the end of the year, I shared some fascinating research about people dying quicker or living longer when there are changes in the death tax. Sort of the ultimate Laffer Curve response, particularly if it’s the former. But the more serious point is that the...
by Dan Mitchell | Jan 4, 2013 | Blogs, Economics, Taxation
Washington is filled with debate and discussion about the economic burden of the federal income tax, which collected $1.13 trillion in FY2012 ($1.37 trillion if you include the corporate income tax). Yet politicians rarely consider the economic impact of payroll...
by Dan Mitchell | Jan 2, 2013 | Big Government, Blogs, Taxation
I’m not sure I could pick out a significant victory for human freedom in 2012. Maybe I’m missing something, but the only good policy that’s even worth mentioning was the decision in Wisconsin to rein in the special privileges and excessive compensation for government...
by Dan Mitchell | Jan 1, 2013 | Blogs, Economics, Europe, Taxation
Back in mid-2010, I wrote that Portugal was going to exacerbate its fiscal problems by raising taxes. Needless to say, I was right. Not that this required any special insight. After all, no nation has ever taxed its way to prosperity. We’re now at the end of 2012 and...
