Downsizing Blog
Minimum Wage Damage in Seattle
Last week, Thomas Firey blogged here on how proponents of higher minimum wages tend to be selective when reviewing the academic literature.
Towards a Private Flood Insurance Market
The federal-government-managed National Flood Insurance Program is $25 billion in debt, stokes moral hazard, and entails a regressive wealth transfer that favors coastal areas.
Devolving Highway Funding
The Trump administration’s recent proposal on infrastructure stressed federalism.
Disability Fraud
The federal government runs more than 2,300 subsidy programs, and they are all susceptible to fraud and other types of improper payments.
Military Base Closings
Today a broad coalition of more than 40 different scholars from over 30 different think tanks and academic institutions have issued a letter calling on the relevant House and Senate committees to grant the Pentagon authority to reduce excess military infrastructure.
How Much Infrastructure Investment?
Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein tweeted Tuesday: “Arrived in China, as always impressed by condition of airport, roads, cell service, etc. US needs to invest in infrastructure to keep up.”
Cutting Subsidies
Ever since President Trump and budget director Mick Mulvaney released a proposed federal budget that includes cuts in some programs, the Washington Post has been full of articles and letters about current and former officials and program beneficiaries who don’t want their budgets cut.
Federal Gas Tax: LaHood Makes No Sense
Former U.S. transportation secretary Ray LaHood lobbied for a federal gas tax increase in a Washington Post letter the other day.
Does Infrastructure Spending Boost the Economy?
President Donald J. Trump has promised to induce $1 trillion of new public and private investment in infrastructure over the next decade.
Trump Pursues Air Traffic Control Reform
The Trump administration will highlight its infrastructure agenda this week.