Author: Chris Edwards / Political Geography: United States

Author:: Chris Edwards
Publication Date:: 04-2013
Content Type:: Journal Article
Journal:: The Cato Journal
Institution:: The Cato Institute
Abstract:: Two decades ago Canada suffered a deep recession and teetered on the brink of a debt crisis caused by rising government spending. The Wall Street Journal said that growing debt was making Canada an "honorary member of the third world" with the "northern peso" as its currency. However, Canada reversed course and cut government spending, balanced its budget, and enacted pro-market reforms. It reduced trade barriers, privatized businesses, and slashed its corporate tax rate. The economy boomed, unemployment plunged, and the formerly weak Canadian dollar soared to reach parity with the U.S. dollar. The Canadian reforms were hugely successful. Today, the United States is in as bad or worse fiscal shape than Canada was in. U.S. leaders need to make major fiscal and economic reforms, and they can learn many lessons from Canadian efforts to restrain government and create a more competitive economy.
Topic:: Reform
Political Geography:: United States and Canada

Author:: Chris Edwards
Publication Date:: 02-2010
Content Type:: Journal Article
Journal:: The Cato Journal
Institution:: The Cato Institute
Abstract:: Public sector compensation is becoming a high-profile policy issue. While private sector wages and benefits have stagnated during the recession, many governments continue to increase compensation for public sector workers. At the same time, there are growing concerns about huge underfunding in public sector retirement plans across the nation.
Political Geography:: United States

Author:: Chris Edwards
Publication Date:: 06-2010
Content Type:: Journal Article
Journal:: The Cato Journal
Institution:: The Cato Institute
Abstract:: New data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that there are more union members in the public sector than in the private sector in the United States. Thirty-nine percent of state and local government workers are members of unions, compared to just 7 percent of private sector workers. What problems are caused by the high level of public sector unionism?
Topic:: Monetary Policy
Political Geography:: United States

Author:: Chris Edwards
Publication Date:: 10-2008
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: The Cato Institute
Abstract:: Revenue poured into state governments as the U.S. economy expanded between 2003 and 2007, prompting the nation's governors to expand state budgets and offer the occasional tax cut. But now that the economy has slowed and revenue growth is down, governors are taking various actions to close rising budget deficits.
Topic:: Government
Political Geography:: United States

Author:: Chris Edwards
Publication Date:: 02-2005
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: The Cato Institute
Abstract:: President Bush has established an advisory panel to study federal tax reform options. The panel is headed by former senators Connie Mack of Florida and John Breaux of Louisiana. Congressional leaders, including House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Majority Leader Tom Delay, have also pledged their support for reform.
Topic:: Development, Economics, and Government
Political Geography:: United States, Florida, and Louisiana

Author:: Chris Edwards
Publication Date:: 06-2004
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: The Cato Institute
Abstract:: The federal government is headed toward a financial crisis as a result of chronic overspending, large deficits, and huge future cost increases in Social Security and Medicare. Social Security and Medicare would be big fiscal challenges even if the rest of the government were lean and efficient, but the budget is littered with wasteful and unnecessary programs.
Topic:: Conflict Resolution, Economics, and Government
Political Geography:: United States

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