I use eight categories of people to break down the poverty data. They are defined as follows: Children — Ages 0-17. Elderly — Ages 65+. Disabled — Either 1) had one of the serious disabilities the Census tracks (PRDISFLG = 1), 2) was out of the labor force for the entire year because of an… Continue reading Technical details for my analysis of 2014 poverty data
How to Tax and Spend 0% of GDP and 100% of GDP Without Affecting Anything
Let’s say I wanted to maintain the status quo distribution and all of the incentives related to it. But I also wanted to do it in a way that cut the tax level to 0% of GDP or 100% of GDP. How would I do that? It’s simple. 0% of GDP Right now the government… Continue reading How to Tax and Spend 0% of GDP and 100% of GDP Without Affecting Anything
What is the left supposed to do electorally?
Jeremy Corbyn won the leadership of the UK Labour Party. As usually happens when the left scores an electoral victory, the center-left and others has made sure to inform Corbyn and his supporters that it is bad that he won and that he never should have tried to win. I am more familiar with this… Continue reading What is the left supposed to do electorally?
The Left Wing of the Fundable
Conor P. Williams has a piece at 74 million that dabbles in a genre I’ve been meaning to comment on for a while. The nut of it is suggested by the title: Liberals Push to Correct Inequality — Just Not If It Involves Opening Up Our Neighborhood Schools. Now I have little faith that liberals… Continue reading The Left Wing of the Fundable
Arguments about Capitalism and Poverty
There is an argument about capitalism and poverty you see from time to time that goes like this. Capitalism is the greatest economic system for poverty reduction. Just look at developing countries like China or indeed the history of developed countries. Where capitalism flourishes, poverty plummets. Thus, those anti-poverty campaigners who criticize capitalism have it… Continue reading Arguments about Capitalism and Poverty