The View from Pew Dr. John E. Stapleford, Director | 12/5/2019 The Pew Center Trust has recently updated its information website on the fiscal health of states. It confirms much of what is known about the State of Delaware’s finances.   On the positive side, as of 2018 Delaware state government could run 20.5 days on rainy day funds if tax revenues completely stopped coming in. This compares well with a U.S. state average of 23.2 days and zero days for both neighboring Pennsy

Recommendations for Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Offshore Wind Leasing Program   Executive Summary   Using a case history from Maryland’s two offshore wind projects, offshore wind permitting and leasing should be halted until several critical issues are addressed.  A Benefit Cost Analysis of two Maryland projects show costs are four times higher than benefits as currently proposed with two-thirds of costs related to lost tourism.  The two projects may be typical of thirt

Recent economic news for Delaware Dr. John E. Stapleford, Director | 11/11/2019 The Fraser Institute has just released its 2018 economic freedom rankings for the states in the U.S. and Delaware remains ranked a low 39 th . Delaware ranked as high as 10 th among the states in economic freedom in 2002 and fell precipitously in the rankings following the 2007-08 recession.   The causes for the decline in ranking are straight-forward and confirmed by ratings from other organizat

A Rising Tide Lifts All Ships Dr. John E. Stapleford, Director | 10/31/2019 In a recent opinion piece Ted Kaufman, relying upon data from the liberal Economic Policy Institute, argued that weak wages require policies that would restore unions and raise the minimum wage. I would favor the policies that encourage economic growth.   The Obama-Biden approach to macroeconomics was increased taxes and regulations. The Trump-Pence approach is decreased taxes and regulations. How are

Dear Governor Carney,   One of the true joys of visiting the ocean is the chance to stare out on a crystal clear day and let the mind wander to the mysteries that lie over the horizon, and to enjoy the pure beauty.  It is rejuvenating.  Have you ever watched with wonder as the moon rises over the ocean?  Politicians in Washington and Maryland have decided to take that view away on Delaware beaches, and to fill the night sky with red flashing aircraft warning lights 1 .  In a

Dear Governor Carney,   One of the true joys of visiting the ocean is the chance to stare out on a crystal clear day and let the mind wander to the mysteries that lie over the horizon, and to enjoy the pure beauty.  It is rejuvenating.  Have you ever watched with wonder as the moon rises over the ocean?  Politicians in Washington and Maryland have decided to take that view away on Delaware beaches, and to fill the night sky with red flashing aircraft warning lights 1 .  In a

Delaware Public Education: A Proposal Dr. John E. Stapleford, Director | 10/24/2019 CRI believes that the first substantive step in approaching any public policy issue is gathering unbiased data. Data, while never perfect, moves away from rhetoric and anecdotes. Data tells us where we are so that we can measure future success or failure.   The Delaware Department of Public Education is to be congratulated and commended for the detailed measures of performance it now provides

Center for Energy Competitiveness

Center for Energy Competitiveness Executive Summary:   The stage for action on energy policy is shifting from the federal level to the states.  Significant de-regulation has occurred under President Trump.  The EPA is no longer driving closure of coal-fired power plants, federal lands have been opened for exploration and production of fossil fuels, methane rules have been relaxed, it is getting easier to build pipelines and export facilities, CAFE Standards will likely be red