66. Economic Policy: Trade-Offs Matter

In this newsletter, I provide the latest on the economic situation and trade-offs from the policies that influence our lives and livelihoods. This includes inflation, property taxes, jobs, and more.

Hello Friend,

Thank you for joining me in another Let People Prosper newsletter! I hope you had a wonderful Resurrection Day with a fantastic celebration of Easter recently. We did!

• Hot Take: Don’t miss my upcoming discussion with two happy warriors for liberty and free markets in the TPPF Economic Policy Workshop #5 (formerly the Conservative Budgeting Workshop). I will be joined by Chuck Beauchamp, Ph.D., of Mississippi College, and Alex Salter, Ph.D., of Texas Tech University to discuss the current economic situation and tradeoffs of different policies. The Workshop will be on Wednesday, May 18, from 1-2 pm CT on Teams at this link.

• Personal Take: Our baby girl arrived on April 6! She is healthy and we’re truly blessed. Having the bases loaded with kids instead of just on first and second bases has been more challenging than expected but we’re truly thankful for this opportunity to raise another freedom fighter! The lack of supply of sleep along with more demand from kids reaches a higher price in the parent market, but we will learn to deal with these challenges and help lower the price soon. See, economics helps explain everything! Ha! But seriously though. I’m starting her economic lessons early…

  

  On the other side of things, my mom’s health has deteriorated as she is battling end-stage liver disease. She is now on hospice and I received word today that she may have at most two weeks to live. I hate the thought of losing both of my parents (dad died from SUDEP in 2011) by the time I’m 40. But I’m blessed to have had them as parents as long as I did. They both went through tremendous adversities throughout their lives and perserveed in their own ways, which are extraordinary lessons for my family and me. I will miss her terribly as we usually talk daily until recently. But I know she’ll soon be in a better place with God in Heaven without suffering and soaring in prosperity (in a holistic way). My faith, family, and friends keep my spirits up while knowing that this is not the last time I’ll see her. Thank you for your prayers and messages!

TEXAS & OTHER STATES ECONOMIES AND POLICIES

1. Don’t miss my latest Economic Brief on Texas.

   

   

2. I testified on the need to lower property tax bills. Watch me at time 2:34:50.

   

   

3. My commentary with Erik Randolph of GCO at Real Clear Policy.

   

4. Listen to my interview on the NC Family Policy Council podcast.

   

5. ALEC’s latest Rich States, Poor States shows that Texas has room to improve.

   

6. Money Geek finds it is unaffordable to buy a home in many cities, even in TX.

   

7. Costly result of bad policies over the last couple of years.

   

8. The latest efforts by President Biden aren’t going to help Texans.

   

9. Housing values are soaring in Texas, especially in Austin.

   

10. Don’t miss this on how everything is bigger in Texas, even property taxes!

U.S. ECONOMY AND POLICIES

1. My op-ed with former CEA Chair Tyler Goodspeed on pro-growth policies.

   

2. Americans have spent inflation-adjusted $24T on safety nets without much change in poverty. Need a new, holistic approach to long-term poverty relief.

   

3. Markets expect the Fed to raise its target rate quickly…will it? Unlikely.

   

4. Mortgage rates are rising rapidly to the highest rate in more than a decade.

   

5. My favorite economist Milton Friedman said a lot about inflation and more.

6. I’m trying to correct the fiscal insanity. It’s a tough job, but someone must do it.

   

7. With CPI inflation at a 40-year high, more evidence the Fed needs a rule.

   

   

8. Student loan forgiveness should end because nothing is free and because of this.

   

9. Here’s a good overview of the real “trickle-down economics.”

   

10. Good piece by my friend, Alex Salter. Worth reading!

    

Closing Thoughts

From the GOAT Milton Friedman and my thoughts on today’s discussion.

My prayers this week are focused on this Bible verse, which I find comfort in.

Thank you for reading and sharing this newsletter. I pray that we continue to have trust in the Lord who can light our path. Many blessings to you and yours!

Overview of the Let People Prosper newsletter: We believe that an inclusive institutional framework with individual liberty, strong families, robust civil society, competitive capitalism, and a constitutional republic best supports abundant opportunities to relieve poverty and let people prosper. This prosperity isn’t just material but spiritual, psychological, etc. that satisfies human desires. Given this understanding and my experience and research as a free-market economist, I provide trusted views on economies and policies across America, especially Texas where I reside, and the COVID-19 situation.

Vance Ginn, Ph.D. | www.vanceginn.com | #LetPeopleProsper