A growing economy creates jobs, raises living standards, maintains global competitiveness, and thus engenders positive attitudes and optimism about the future.
While many policymakers seem intent on focusing on either economic stimulus or austerity, IPI believes that the economy can grow consistently and at higher rates than we’ve experienced in the last decade, and we reject the idea that economic growth contains within itself the seeds of its own demise through inflation, the business cycle, and erroneous Phillips Curve assumptions. Therefore, economic growth should be elected officials’ primary policy goal at the federal, state and local levels, and it’s the organizing principle of our policy work at IPI.
Whatever limitations may exist on economic growth, they should not be self-imposed through counterproductive tax policy, overbearing regulations, ill-conceived monetary policy, trade protectionism, or hostility toward skilled and ambitious immigration.
Draining the Foreign Aid Swamp
President Trump and Secretary Tillerson are scaling back the money we hand out to other countries, and the countries and other hangers-on don't like it one bit.
Saving Money and Budgeting How-To: Smart Financial Practices
One savings vehicle that just didn't get the job done was the government-sponsored myRA account. Existing alternatives to the myRA were superior because they allowed workers to invest in a variety of securities, while the myRA restricted investments to U.S. Treasuries," noted IPI in a commentary. "Treasuries are lousy retirement investments."
When Trump Touts 'Made in America' He Should Talk Energy Too
There is at least one sector where “Made in America” means a stronger economy — not a weaker one.
'You Dingbats Can't Go Home Until You Do Your Job'
If the GOP leadership were to postpone or cancel the August recess, members of Congress would have time--and a lot more pressure--to accomplish what they promised they'd do.
Mineral Rights Can Make You Rich
“So much of our land was closed to development,” President Trump observed in a recent energy speech. “We’re opening it up.” If he makes good on that promise, it will give the economy a major boost, along with millions of royalty owners.
Californians Love Texas
The information about Californians moving to Texas confirms what some people already know. "We've been identifying that situation for some time," says Merrill Matthews, PhD, a resident scholar for the Texas-based Institute for Policy Innovation.
To Grow the Economy, Make Welfare Recipients Work
The economy needs workers to grow, and President Trump's welfare work requirements will help provide them.
EDITORIAL: Finding Hope After Trump's Climate Retreat
This weekend the Trib has devoted a generous amount of ink and paper to differing views on President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the 2015 Paris climate accord. Those opinions range widely, from Washington Post journalist Ben Adler’s concern for both environment and economy, increasingly dependent on renewable energy and green initiatives, to conservative Texas scholar Merrill Matthews’ fears that the accord made too many demands of developed nations for environmental change, which he suggests (and with strong evidence) is already being positively affected by free-market forces.
A World Without the CBO
According to Director Mick Mulvaney, “The day of the CBO has probably come and gone.” We couldn't agree more.
Trump's Tweet Tirade Against Germany Could Backfire On U.S.
"The U.S. has a trade deficit because consumers have money to spend — and they spend it," said Merrill Matthews, IPI resident scholar, in a recent post. "Moreover, when U.S. consumers buy foreign goods and services (the current account), that money returns in the form of investment (the capital account). In other words, the accounts balance."
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