Pandering to Economist
Greg Mankiw writes in the NY Times about a small special interest group – economists. He give a list of eight policies that he says would appeal to the vast majority of economists.
- Support free trade
- Oppose farm subsidies
- Leave oil companies and speculators alone
- Tax the use of energy
- Raise the retirement age
- Invite more skilled immigrants
- Liberalize drug policy
- Raise funds for economic research
I support pretty much all of the above. It is of course a matter of degree. We have GST on energy and petrol excise tax to fund the roads and the ETS will be a tax on energy, so I’m not saying you want even more taxes.