Topic: Fiscal Policy

Economic History, Fiscal Policy, Inflation, Monetary Policy

Monetary Policy and that Old-Time Fiscal Religion

– March 26, 2023

“Nominal income targeting can potentially restore the old-time fiscal religion. Like the classical gold standard, this approach stabilizes total spending in the economy, rendering counter-cyclical fiscal policy unnecessary and ineffective.” ~ Bryan P. Cutsinger & Louis Rouanet

Financial Markets, Fiscal Policy, Government, Monetary Policy

Is it a LOLR? No, It’s a Trap

– March 20, 2023

“The reason this is infuriating is that we are being told that taxpayers should be willing to double down, to reimburse even-more-careless depositors for their negligent inattention to risk.” ~ Michael C. Munger

Fiscal Policy, Government, Taxation

The Biden Budget: Smoke, Mirrors, and Class Warfare

– March 15, 2023

“Beyond tired class warfare rhetoric and anti-competitive measures, the Biden administration is attempting to increase not only the size of the state (through more taxing and spending), but also the scope of the state, through misguided commercial and industrial policy.” ~ Nikolai G. Wenzel

Fiscal Policy, Government, Taxation

What To Do About Deficits, Debt

– March 15, 2023

“When it comes to fiscal follies, this time is different. Let’s not pass the buck. Instead, let’s make the necessary sacrifices to ensure the long-run integrity of the United States. Let’s plant the trees.” ~ Alexander William Salter

Fiscal Policy, Government, Regulation

The Unconstitutional Tax on “Unrealized Capital Gains”

– March 13, 2023

“Much like the contrived economic arguments behind the wealth tax, its legal arguments are a result of politically motivated reasoning to bring about a new tax system that the Constitution prohibits.” ~ Phillip W. Magness

Crisis, Financial Markets, Fiscal Policy, Monetary Policy

Silicon Valley Bank: Bespoke, Woke, and Restoked?

– March 13, 2023

“In a chorus which has become familiar, the S&P 500 futures just leapt upward, as the dollar fell with equal fervor. Relief for equities, a snub to the greenback. At 7:45pm EDT on an otherwise quiet Sunday night in March, this is what that kicking the can down the road looks like.” ~ Peter C. Earle

Fiscal Policy, Free Markets, Government

For a Fair and Efficient Tax Policy, Restore the SALT Deduction

– March 3, 2023

“Restoring full deductibility would realign the Republican party’s position on this issue with a more free-market approach to tax fairness and its long-time support of supply-side tax analysis, which guided most of the other changes in 2017.” ~ Roy Cordato

Fiscal Policy, Free Markets, Government, War and Peace

Proponents of Fiscal Stimulus Need to Stop Using World War II as an Example

– March 2, 2023

“If proponents of fiscal stimulus want to use wartime spending as an empirical illustration to make their case, they need to be aware that doing so relies on a bad understanding of economic facts.” ~ Vincent Geloso

Fiscal Policy, Free Markets, Government

Responsible Budgeting Corrects Bipartisan Overspending Crisis

– March 1, 2023

“The negotiations around raising the debt ceiling should be that opportunity to provide fiscal sanity. If not, we will have more costly consequences that Americans can’t afford.” ~ Vance Ginn

Crisis, Fiscal Policy, Government

Apres Biden, Le Deluge: When the Republican Party Gives Up Entitlement Reform

– February 24, 2023

“Even the Biden Treasury Department labels the present financial path as ‘unsustainable.’ Refusing to look at so-called entitlements, most importantly Medicare and Social Security, ensures growing outlays, deficits, and debt.” ~ Doug Bandow

Economic Education, Fiscal Policy, Government

Why “Disincentive Deserts” Matter Far More Than Benefits Cliffs

– February 13, 2023

“Benefits cliffs certainly remain an important area of policy study, but we should pay more attention to creatively solving the problems of disincentive deserts, since they exist for such long and dispiriting spans of workers’ income journey.” ~ Craig J. Richardson

Crisis, Fiscal Policy, Government

Will Federal Spending Be Brought Under Control?

– February 10, 2023

“Will Congress actually cut spending? History suggests not. Economic historian Robert Higgs invented the term ‘ratchet effect’ to describe the way that government growth after a crisis tends to be locked in: the size of government never retreats to what it was before the crisis.” ~ Jason Sorens