Richard W. Rahn

RAHN: Tale of two economic styles

Will 2013 be a better year? A number of economic commentators have been saying the worst is behind us. I think they are wrong, and here is why. In most major countries, including the United States, government is growing faster than the private sector.

January 15, 2013

RAHN: Uncle Sam won’t stop overspending

Tax revenue in 2013 will be lower (despite the just passed tax increase), and government spending will be higher than forecast. It's an easy prediction -- and this is why.

January 7, 2013

RAHN: One piece of the coming disaster

You may have been reading how the Federal Reserve has been buying huge quantities -- almost a trillion dollars' worth -- of "mortgage-backed securities" (MBS).

December 31, 2012

RAHN: Obama’s hidden-tax heist

How is it possible that the government can spend almost twice as much as it takes in without having high inflation?

December 24, 2012

RAHN: Obama’s money misunderstanding

In times past, political leaders would lay out their domestic and foreign policies in clear, coherent terms. President Obama talks about getting our fiscal house in order but fails to propose any meaningful spending cuts.

December 17, 2012

RAHN: Penalized for success

Last week, Christine Jacobs, the CEO of Theragenics Corp., a public company listed on the New York Stock Exchange that makes medical devices and is involved in cutting-edge cancer cures, wrote a letter to President Obama explaining why it was necessary to "begin moving our U.S. manufacturing to Costa Rica."

December 10, 2012

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"?

December 3, 2012

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?

November 26, 2012

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?

November 19, 2012

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."

November 12, 2012

RAHN: Congressional control as important as White House

The media focus has been on the presidential campaign, but the makeup of the U.S. Congress is likely to have an equal or perhaps even greater impact on your future economic well-being.

November 5, 2012

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?

October 29, 2012

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.

October 22, 2012

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.

October 15, 2012

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.

October 8, 2012