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

The Effect of Individual Income Tax Rates on the Economy, Part 5: 1968 – 1988

by Mike Kimel The Effect of Individual Income Tax Rates on the Economy, Part 5: 1968 – 1988This post is the fourth in a series that looks at the relationship between real economic growth and the top individual marginal tax rate. The first looked at the period from 1901 to 1928, the second from 1929 […]

The Effect of Individual Income Tax Rates on the Economy, Part 2: The Great Depression and the New Deal, 1929 – 1940

by Mike Kimel The Effect of Individual Income Tax Rates on the Economy, Part 2: The Great Depression and the New Deal, 1929 – 1940 This post is the second in a series that looks at the relationship between real economic growth and the top individual marginal tax rate. Last week I had a post […]

A Post: Tax Burdens, Presidents, and Subsequent Economic Growth – A Few Pictures, Part

by Mike Kimel A Post: Tax Burdens, Presidents, and Subsequent Economic Growth – A Few Pictures, Part 1 Last week I had a post looking at the relationship between the change in the tax burden in the first two years of a Presidential administration and the growth of real GDP during the remaining years of […]

Optimal Tax Rates for Generating Economic Growth According to Barro-Sahasakul Tax Data

By Mike Kimel Optimal Tax Rates for Generating Economic Growth According to Barro-Sahasakul Tax Data This piece is a bit more wonky than what I normally post. I recently re-read “Macroeconomic Effects from Government Purchases and Taxes” by Barro & Redlick. I was struck by how different the conclusions they make about taxes are from […]

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 […]

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 […]