Economic scholars have recently shown how high government debt has a negative effect on long-term economic growth. Government debt crowds out private investment, slowing the growth of gross domestic product (GDP) and wages. The consensus is that “debt drag” gets worse as debt rises. Like piling bricks on a sled, …
Can a politician advocate budget cuts and succeed? The answer is found in the politics of President Calvin Coolidge, a man whose persistence led to reductions in the size of government, according to Amity Shlaes, the author of a new biography on the 30th President entitled simply, Coolidge. “[There is] …
Amity Shlaes will be speaking about her new book Coolidge at Heritage tomorrow. It’s a great opportunity to learn why, when it comes to government, bigger isn’t better. Less than a century ago, the United States enjoyed an economic boom under the leadership of a quiet, restrained, and often forgotten …
Federal budget cuts called “sequestration” are scheduled to hit in just 10 days. The sequestration cuts are not perfect—they’re a blunt instrument to cut spending, rather than a deliberative plan that sets priorities, trims entitlements, and cuts other spending. But they are law. It would be better to replace them …
A not-so-small cottage industry has grown up refuting liberal economist Paul Krugman’s public pronouncements. It’s not a hard industry to join, and there’s plenty of work, but it can be repetitive. Even so, Krugman’s recent writings opposing federal spending cuts for the sake of the economy are sufficiently troubling to …
President Barack Obama laid out an ambitious agenda last night. Here are some highlights of our experts’ analysis of his claims, his plans, and his promises. Responding to Newtown All Americans, no matter what our backgrounds or political perspectives, abhor the death of innocent human beings. We were shocked by …
