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4th Edition – By Arthur B. Laffer, Stephen Moore and Jonathan Williams
A Message from Gov. Sam Brownback of Kansas
Rich States, Poor States should be required reading for governors, legislators, and those who serve them. Money is spent more efficiently by the private sector than by governments, so it is reasonable to expect that states with lower overall taxes have better economic environments than states with high taxes and more government spending. It is true that lowering taxes can be politically difficult: even fiscal conservatives start losing their enthusiasm for cutting taxes when special interest groups that consume a state’s tax dollars warn them that tax cuts will have dire consequences. But the consequences of being caught in a spiral of increased taxes and a decreasing rate of return on the tax base are much more dangerous. Arthur Laffer, Stephen Moore, and Jonathan Williams use a clear, concise format to expose the scare tactics of the tax-and-spend crowd and show how economic vitality follows lower taxes.
It is true that the policies of the federal government have a direct effect on the economic environment of the entire country, but governors and legislatures are not rudderless. We can and must start to change our country’s economic course by providing an environment that rewards our citizens for their efforts and their risks. The founders of our country understood that a republic with its multiple states was the perfect incubator for vetting competing approaches to public policies.
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Rich States, Poor States illustrates the outcomes of various tax policies at the state level throughout the country. The evidence is overwhelming and the proper course is clear: States should pursue policies that leave more money in our citizens’ pockets to help fuel and drive our economy.
I’d like to thank the authors for their contribution to the effort to restore economic prosperity to our great country. To those who doubt their research, I encourage you to watch Kansas during the next few years as we work to reset the state’s course on taxes and let our citizens once again be the engine
of economic growth.
What Others Are Saying…
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“The data and analysis from ALEC on state economic conditions is a powerful resource for policymakers who care about reducing spending so they can begin reducing taxes. It’s both a report card and a score card. Frankly, Ohio’s not doing as well as it needs to do. The information that ALEC provides helps us understand our competitive position and helps spur us to do better.”
- Ohio Governor John Kasich
“One major lesson from my years in corporate America is that where you do business really makes a difference. The best state governments realize that their citizens are making those calculations all the time. Rich States, Poor States is a great tool for those lawmakers intent upon increasing state economic competitiveness and prosperity.”
- Florida Governor Rick Scott
“The Great Recession has taken a correspondingly great toll on state budgets. Yet, states that have put in place the strongest pro-growth economic policies have been able to weather the storm much better than states with the highest taxes, highest government spending, and most burdensome regulation. Year after year Rich States, Poor States puts forth compelling new anecdotes, data and theories to back up the commonsense economic policies Tennessee continues to count on for longterm economic growth.”
- Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam