After two decades of stellar performance, Delaware’s economy moved in reverse during the most recent decade, and the near term outlook is subpar.   A DECADE OF DECLINE   The major measures of performance for the Delaware economy from 2000 through 2010 are grim. Compared to a median annual growth in total employment of 2.5% during the 1990s, Delaware crept along at 0.4% during 2000-10. If government jobs are excluded, total employment in Delaware actually retreated -5.4%. Simi

The news is that the rollout of Obamacare is a disaster, and by any measure widely known it is just that, a screw-up. Do you remember Ali getting destroyed by Frasier in the first few rounds? The strategy became known as Rope-a-Dope. Ali won. We can learn from Ali and history. This "failure" of Obamacare is nothing of the sort. It is brilliant and successful.   One must judge the progress by the stated end goals. Barrack Obama, Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi, as well as both Ra

Fiskers projected sales dont coincide with reality.

An analysis of the governors proposed cut in funding for the University of Delaware for FY2011.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the Supreme Court heard oral arguments over the constitutionality of the PPACA, the patient protection and affordable care act.  This is President Barack Obama’s centerpiece legislation of his political career and in many ways defines his presidency. What this court battle is about has nothing to do with health care and everything to do with freedom and liberty.  In order to provide healthcare to less than 10% of the population our elected offici

This is a poor time to experiment with new energy regulations such as the RPS (Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards). The stark reality is that Delaware’s economy is in very serious straits. Delaware has fewer jobs today than it did a decade ago. Over that decade unemployment has gone from 3.3% to 8.5%. Under the best scenario it will take Delaware 3 years to regain its peak pre-recession level of employment, and it may take as long as 5 years. Nearly 19,000 discouraged worke

This article was originally published at delawareonline.com on June 4, 2015 and in The News Journal the next day. As former chair of DEFAC (the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council 1977-85), I read with interest and enthusiasm the May 2015 report of the DEFAC Advisory Council on Revenues.   The recommendations and conclusions reached in that report were carefully explained, and in general, if adopted, would improve the State’s revenue structure.   A few of their

Delaware AFSCME is living large during the recession

Research by economist W. Kurt Hauser demonstrates that since World War II U.S. government tax revenues have averaged just under 19% of GDP. This proportion has held steady despite 30 major changes in the tax code across all sources of revenue (e.g., personal income, corporate, investment tax credits, depreciation schedules, Social Security). Why? Apparently higher tax rates encourage taxpayers “to shift, hide and underreport income…and to divert their effort from pro-growth p

An analysis of the method for funding beach replenishment and a viable alternative.