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Back to Home Written on 07-Apr-2008 by SamTR

Does cutting taxes mean cutting public services? Do countries with 'slim' governments preside over significantly more unequal societies than 'big government' countries? Our new report out today by economist Keith Marsden provides some striking answers to these questions amongst others. Using data from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund 'Big, Not Better?' shows that over the last decade, countries which have ‘slim’ (ie low tax) governments:

have been able to increase funding for public services more generously;
have enjoyed higher growth and lower debt; and,
have spent more on law and order, and defence,

…than their ‘bigger’ (higher taxed) government counterparts. And the report shows that this has not come at the expense of income distribution, which is broadly similar to the level in 'big government' countries.

Read CPS Director Jill Kirby's response here and the Telegraph's Janet Daley here. The report has been covered by BBC News Online and the Daily Telegraph's business section

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written on 18-Apr-2008

Gruff says:

Wow, what amazing analysis, what exceptional insight! SamTR, you sure write a good article ;-)

(on a serious note, that's a great piece of research, and how sad that Gormless Brown is instead expanding the state in the UK, something like 45% of the economy now! Economic competence? Pah!)
written on 18-Apr-2008

JimEllisForPresident says:

In the US, too many elitist candidates talk about the cost of entitlements while voting themselves big salaries and giving huge amounts of money to investment firms and their no-bid contractors who funded their campaigns. Thats why this veteran is starting a new american re-evolution of politics. Get your campaigns on you-tube and the internet all you fed up middleclass and poor people. Instead of boycotting your right to vote, simply get us into office with write in votes. Unless some other person has courage to do this, I ask all to please spread the word, Write in "Jim Ellis For President", and please folks start your own campaigns for every office up for election. There really is no difference between these two parties as far as selling off America to the elite, so we must create a plurality in government of ordinary folks in office who will look out for our own interests and our own country! Amen.
written on 19-Apr-2008

JimEllisForPresident says:

My idea of write in votes of nonparty middle class people is entirely do-able since 90% of people boycott voting after the last scam elections. This is different, in the electoral college system we need only to win two large states in a three way race against the two parties. Now that means they will split 10% of voters, while Jim Ellis needs to get only 6% of the remaining 90% to win. As disgusted as the people are with McCain wanting a 100 year war, and Hillary and Baracks' splitting the Dems and sending voters away, Jim Ellis is guaranteed to win with write in votes. Please folks, send this posting to everyone you know, ask them to do the same. By November 08 Jim Ellis will get written in enmasse! And so will any other grassroots candidates for the other offices up for election. Please publish this in Europe and American Press will have to stop boycotting printing my Re-Evolution of American Politics. Resume: Genius IQ, Former military, for ending war immediately with turnover to the UN and an Arab coalition, Pro green industry, American Job gains by giving tax breaks to US manufacturers who resapect unions, Environmental science major and Man of faith who respects all religions, single dad who supports equal parenting, direct verifiable elections. A man of courage to confront the system to make life better for all rather than a select few. Amen

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