Friday, October 9, 2015

Sean Guillory — Ukraine’s New Neoliberal Necromancer [Art Laffer]


Laffer's record, culminating in Sam Brownback's Kansas "experiment."
Yet one need not survey the last thirty years to see the results of Laffer’s dogma. Rewind to 2012, when Laffer advised Kansas Governor Sam Brownback to shove his slash-taxes-for-economic-growth snake oil down the Plains State’s throat. Brownback, a disciple himself, dutifully complied. Laffer’s plan, after all, would serve as a “real live experiment” for the potency of supply-side economics. By 2015, Kansas was stuck with a $600 million budget deficit. When Brownback reproached Laffer on his promise of economic growth, Laffer chided him for his lack of faith and urged patience. “Kansas is doing fine,” says Laffer. What was the prescription for this calamity? Austerity.
Laffer is the US government's choice to advise Ukraine on a new tax system?

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