Relevant and even prescient commentary on news, politics and the economy.

Four Graphs Looking at Real Economic Growth

by Mike Kimel Four Graphs Looking at Real Economic Growth This post contains four graphs looking at real economic growth, three of which also contain some tax information. The first graph shows the five year annualized growth in real GDP for every five year period beginning the one ending in 1934. (I begin then simply […]

Libertarians Looking Vaguely in the Direction of Apostasy

by Mike Kimel Libertarians Looking Vaguely in the Direction of Apostasy Tyler Cowen is a prominent libertarian, a professor at GMU and Director of the Mercatus Institute. He is also on very, very dangerous ground. Lately he has had a couple of posts – the latest one here – that quote a new book by […]

Robert Reich’s After Shock and Corey Robin’s Freedom Arguments

by Linda Beale In earlier posts on ataxingmatter (here and here), I reviewed Robert Reich’s 2010 book, After Shock, and wrote about his suggested cures for the problems made most visible in the 2007 crash and the Great Depression that followed. The gist of the book is summed up in the following quote: “[L]eft to […]

GW Broke with Clinton. Did Obama Break with GW?

by Mike Kimel Update: McClatchy tackles the question here. GW Broke with Clinton. Did Obama Break with GW?Cross-posted at the Presimetrics blog The following major initiatives had occurred toward the end of April 2003, about two years and three months into the GW Bush administration: 1. Marginal income tax rate cuts in 2001, 2002 and […]

John Taylor in Favor of Higher Marginal Income Tax Rates? If Not, Why Not?

by Mike Kimel John Taylor in Favor of Higher Marginal Income Tax Rates? If Not, Why Not? A couple of weeks ago, John Taylor posted a graph showing that since 1990, there has been a negative correlation between the Investment to GDP ratio and unemployment. There’s been some back and forth between Taylor and some […]

Some @*$&s Write a Letter

by Mike Kimel Deficit numbers for CEA chair signatories on the deficit letter Cross-posted at Presimetrics Title updated I’m kind of late to this, but apparently ten ex-chairs of the President’s Council of Economic Advisors decided to share their opinion about the national debt with the rest of us. There’s been commentary here and there […]

Information Reporting on foreign depositors in US banks–Florida’s GOP delegation shamefully supports tax evasion facilitation

by Linda Bealecrossposted with Ataxingmatter Information Reporting on foreign depositors in US banks–Florida’s GOP delegation shamefully supports tax evasion facilitation Many wealthy Americans have taken advantage of banking secrecy in other countries, particularly Switzerland, to hide their assets and income from the United States, thus avoiding paying their fair share of taxes on their riches.  […]

Japan: The Post-WW2 Rise, the 1980s Peak, and the Decline – A Simple Theory

by Mike Kimel Japan: The Post-WW2 Rise, the 1980s Peak, and the Decline – A Simple TheoryCross-posted at the Presimetrics blog. A lot has been written about the disaster in Japan. I don’t have much I can add to that, except that like everyone else (or at least everyone civilized), I am so very sorry […]