Suspending the gas tax is generally a poor tool for combating rising prices, and it would be especially damaging now.
Karl W. SmithBloomberg Opinion Columnist
Karl W. Smith is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. Previously, he was vice president for federal policy at the Tax Foundation and assistant professor of economics at the University of North Carolina.
The return of inflation means that US trade policy should focus on the welfare of the consumer.
The president is on safe ground when he talks about stabilizing the economy, but he shouldn't try to transform it.
Raising corporate rates may be politically appealing to Democrats, but it doesn’t make much sense economically.
The president can show his commitment to low gas prices by supporting the senator’s efforts to reach a compromise.
The president and his party have a window of opportunity while the economy is growing and interest rates are still low.
The president’s proposal is not only plagued by practical problems, but also undermines one of the core goals of a progressive tax system.
The war in Ukraine makes the central bank’s job more difficult but also more straightforward.
The proposals the president made in his State of the Union address won’t have much impact on short-term price increases.
The technology can increase the total supply of oil and keep a lid on prices.
Sarah Bloom Raskin’s ideas about how to combat global warming would threaten the central bank’s independence.
Is it finally time to start worrying about how much the federal government is spending?
The current state of the economy shows the consequences of unchecked government spending.
Normally the best thing to do with a revenue windfall is return some money to taxpayers, but these are not normal times.
Democrats like to cite a lack of competition as a reason for rising prices, but that’s not how economics explains it.
Delays in shipping and delivery in the U.S. have more to do with strong demand than with strains in the global system.
If the president and his party really want to reduce child poverty, there is a credible plan that even has Republican support.
The housing market could be on the cusp of a fundamental shift with long-lasting implications for the U.S. economy.
The president deserves some credit for avoiding the policy mistakes of a decade ago, even if voters are unlikely to give it to him.
The idea is appealing both politically and economically, but Democrats should be careful what they wish for.
