A transfer is a cash (or cash-like) benefit that governments just distribute out to certain (or all) people. The United States has a variety of transfer programs. The Earned Income Tax Credit transfers money to low-income workers and their families. The Child Tax Credit transfers money to households with dependent children. SNAP transfers food vouchers… Continue reading Transfers really do work
Author: Matt Bruenig
Generational justice is extremely tricky
A short time ago, I wrote a couple of pieces (I, II) critical of an Evan Soltas’ article about the projected deficits in Social Security and Medicare. In those two pieces, I focused primarily on what I thought was a confused policy position of Soltas. But I also want to address the philosophical ideas surrounding… Continue reading Generational justice is extremely tricky
How to socialize finance tomorrow
Matt Yglesias has a piece today about how the current state of the bond market permits profitable leveraged buyouts. The interest rates on junk bonds have now dipped below the rate of return for the S&P 500 as a whole. So, if someone was able to put it together, they could raise a bunch of… Continue reading How to socialize finance tomorrow
Members of Congress with student debt
I ran across an interesting piece from Open Secrets on members of Congress with student debt. At one point, the article lists the top ten student loan debtors in Congress. Because information about members of Congress tends to be more public, I thought it would be interesting to run down the background details of these… Continue reading Members of Congress with student debt
Amartya Sen: what is a human right?
I do not usually go for political arguments that talk about rights, but I also do not recoil in anger when people make them. I understand discussion of rights is a common language people have, and it helps many people express their ideas. One of the key questions in that discussion of course is what… Continue reading Amartya Sen: what is a human right?