Cato scholars examine federal, state, and local spending and tax issues from a limited government perspective. They explore the benefits of lower‐rate tax systems, the distortions caused by government spending, and the dangers of rising debt. A guiding principle for budget policy is federalism, the idea that federal activities should be limited and most government activities are better handled by the states.
Tax and Budget Policy
Featured Book
A Fiscal Cliff: New Perspectives on the U.S. Federal Debt Crisis
In this timely volume, scholars and policymakers assess the United States’ fiscal constraints and provide new perspectives that are desperately needed in order to solve the nation’s debt crisis. Previous recommendations focused on the outcomes of fiscal policy but perhaps we should take a step back and ask whether the fiscal and budget process rules themselves should be reformed. The essays in A Fiscal Cliff suggest that “unless we reform our fiscal rules and institutions, we are not likely to solve the debt crisis and restore sustainable fiscal policies.”
Featured Content
States Don’t Need a Bailout
For calendar year 2020, state and local tax revenues were up 1% over 2019 despite the economic downturn.
What to Make of the Growing Opposition to Biden’s OMB Pick?
The president’s pick to manage the administrative state is “on the rocks” after three centrist senators announced their opposition to Neera Tanden for director of the Office of Management and Budget.
An Awful Time for a Minimum Wage Hike
Biden’s national wage mandate makes no sense in such a diverse country, and it makes even less sense right now when the country desperately needs small businesses to create new jobs for millions of displaced workers.
The Effect of State Marijuana Legalizations: 2021 Update
New research finds that the strong claims made by both advocates and critics of state‐level marijuana legalization are substantially overstated and in some cases entirely without real‐world support.
Capitol Police Funding
After all the security breaches at both the congressional complex and White House over the years, and the many large protests in the city, you would think that the Capitol Police would have been better prepared.