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Richard W. Rahn

Richard W. Rahn

Richard W. Rahn is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and chairman of the Institute for Global Economic Growth.

Articles by Richard W. Rahn

Illustration by Alexander Hunter for The Washington Times

RAHN: Vote higher taxes now, regret it later

If you are a member of Congress and you wish to be re-elected, do you increase your chances of winning by voting for or against raising taxes on the "rich"? Published December 3, 2012

Illustration: Argentina by Alexander Hunter for The Washington Times

RAHN: In defense of ‘vulture funds’

If you lend money at 5 percent interest for 10 years and then suddenly the borrower announces that he is only going to repay you at 30 cents on the dollar, would you think you have been cheated? Published November 26, 2012

Illustration by Jennifer Kohnke

RAHN: Liberal leaders flunk math

Dennis Van Roekel, president of the largest teachers union, the National Education Association, failed fifth-grade math last week. The question he failed is: If X (government spending) is growing faster than A (government tax revenue) plus B (new revenue from higher tax rates on "the rich"), when will A plus B equal X? Published November 19, 2012

Illustration by Kevin Kreneck

RAHN: Misdiagnosing the stagnation

Last Friday, President Obama said, "We can't just cut our way to prosperity. If we are serious about reducing the deficit, we have to combine spending cuts with revenue -- and that means asking the wealthiest Americans to pay a little more in taxes." Published November 12, 2012

Illustration: U.S. regulations by Alexander Hunter for The Washington Times

RAHN: The coming regulatory tsunami

Knowledgeable officials are expecting a regulatory tsunami after the election. By law, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is required to publish a report each April and October about new regulations that government agencies are considering. OMB failed to publish the April report. The question is why -- what is it hiding? Published October 29, 2012

Illustration Piggy Bank by Alexander Hunter for The Washington Times

RAHN: Political bullies and faith

One of the most delicious moments in last week's presidential debates was when President Obama attacked Mitt Romney for having some of his money invested in Chinese and Cayman Islands companies. Published October 22, 2012

Illustration by Donna Grethen

RAHN: Tax-raisers lack compassion

If you were unemployed, would you prefer a job or a handout? Most people would say a job because of the self-respect that comes with being productively employed. Published October 15, 2012

Illustration Small Government by Alexander Hunter for The Washington Times

RAHN: A world without income taxes

Why should the federal government bother to impose taxes when it can use the Federal Reserve to "print" all the money it needs to pay its bills? Last year, the Fed bought 77 percent of all of the government's new debt, which is the equivalent of printing money. Published October 8, 2012

Illustration Obama Crushes by Alexander Hunter for The Washington Times

RAHN: A vote for Obama is a vote for recession

Many in the mainstream media appear to be in the bag for the re-election of President Obama. They also appear to not have thought through the consequences of their wishes, both to the nation and their own careers. Published October 1, 2012

Illustration: Global taxes by Alexander Hunter for The Washington Times

RAHN: U.S. should ax destructive tax

It's difficult to say definitively which tax is the most destructive. The corporate income tax is a leading candidate for causing higher prices to consumers, lower wages to workers and lower returns to investors. Published September 24, 2012

Illustration: Tyranny and freedom by Linas Garsys for The Washington Times

RAHN: America in free-fall

The annual Economic Freedom of the World report, including an index of country rankings, has just been released, and it should be a wake-up call. Published September 17, 2012

Illustration by Alexander Hunter for The Washington Times

RAHN: The wrong doctors

Central banks are being pressured by their political masters to solve a problem they cannot solve. Published September 11, 2012

Illustration Jobless Can by Linas Garsys for The Washington Times

RAHN: Democrats’ hypocrisy with the rich

Did you know that President Obama is responsible for the loss of more U.S. jobs than any other person? Did you know that Sen. John F. Kerry and his wife are three to four times as rich as Mitt and Ann Romney, according to the New York Times, yet paid a lower tax rate than the Romneys in 2003, the year before Mr. Kerry ran for president? Published August 27, 2012

Illustration: Economic mayday by Alexander Hunter for The Washington Times

RAHN: Stop global economic malpractice

Two centuries ago, it was common practice for the doctors to bleed a patient in the belief that it would get rid of the "vapors" that were thought to be causing the illness. As a result, most patients got worse and many died. Much of the world is now suffering from equally incompetent politicos playing economic doctors. Published August 20, 2012

Illustration: Greed by John Camejo for The Washington Times

RAHN: Economic lessons from the Olympics

Do you admire what the Olympic athletes have been able to accomplish, and do you think they should be applauded for their outstanding performances? Most people in the world would answer the question in the affirmative. Most people also admire and applaud great musicians and artists. Published August 13, 2012

The Washington Times

RAHN: Resist the U.N.’s disability convention

Which level of government do you think should have the responsibility for protecting the rights of the disabled -- local, state, federal or the United Nations? The United States has been a global leader in protecting the disabled and advancing its interests. Published August 6, 2012

Illustration by M. Ryder

RAHN: No excuse for bad policies

The Obama administration and its apologists, including many in the media, keep telling us that the Great Recession was the worst since the Great Depression in the 1930s, and that is why the recovery has been so anemic. Is that true? Published July 30, 2012

The Washington Times

RAHN: Irrational infatuation with biofuels

Are you upset about rapidly rising food costs and high gas prices? You can thank members of Congress and the administration for this situation. Much of the United States is in the midst of a major drought. That's not the fault of the political class, but those folks have made the consequences of the drought far worse for the entire world. Published July 23, 2012