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(April 2008) Economists from the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank, the Univ. of Arkansas and the Policy Foundation participated in a recent forum on the Arkansas economy that aired statewide on public television (AETN). The monthly show, ‘Unconventional Wisdom,’ is hosted by Stephens News Bureau columnist David Sanders, and can be viewed at: http://www.aetn.org/production/podcast/unconventional_media/march_28,_2008 Michael Pakko […]

  “In order for Arkansas to move from a low-wage to a high-wage economy, the state needs to decrease marginal tax rates …in order to attract (high-income) workers to Arkansas.” (“Taxes And Savings in Arkansas.” Murphy Commission, 1998) (April 2008) Arkansas employment growth trailed the U.S. in 2007, the fourth consecutive year that job creation in […]

“The state’s income tax should be reduced … Consider an across-the-board cut, reduce the marginal rates, exempt taxpayers below a certain income level from filing, and expedite the process of indexing for inflation (Improving Productivity by Reducing Taxes and Taxes and Savings in Arkansas, Murphy Commission, 1998) Summary: Individual income tax brackets, in response to […]

Performance-based budgeting would require state government to develop quantifiable measures for all functions and then allocate tax dollars based on the effectiveness of meeting performance goals. Activities-based costing allocates tax dollars in a consistent and uniform manner. The Murphy Commission, a Policy Foundation project recommended both ideas in 1998. Gov. Beebe sponsored a performance-based pilot […]

“Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico has cut income and capital gains tax rates to make the state’s economy more competitive, and his state is creatng jobs at one of the fastest rates in the U.S.” Policy Foundation column in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, July 13, 2004 Once upon a time many economists did not accept the […]

Arkansas is one of the poorest states in the nation, and also one of the least healthy according to health surveys. Proponents of a ‘Healthy Arkansas’ emphasis on prevention contend that more widespread use of good habits could have a profound effect on families, businesses, schools, faith-based groups and healthcare providers in the state. The […]

  “(T)ax proposals should be submitted to a process of dynamic scoring in order to assess the economic impact. Findings should be reported to the public before enactment of the policies.” (Murphy Commission, 1998)   (March 24, 2008) Arkansas legislators will rely on a state revenue estimate based on an $8 natural gas futures contract […]

Arkansas needs a more efficient K-12 public school system with fewer superintendents and other administrators. We should not close rural schools simply because they are small or rural if they are in compliance with Lake View and producing acceptable academic results. They can remain open under administrative restructuring where an administrative unit is defined as […]

  “(T)ax proposals should be submitted to a process of dynamic scoring in order to assess the economic impact. Findings should be reported to the public before enactment of the policies.” (Murphy Commission, 1998)   (March 24, 2008) Arkansas legislators will rely on a state revenue estimate based on an $8 natural gas futures contract […]

“Charter schools create an alternate form of public schooling where schools are granted significant autonomy but are held accountable for results. The ‘charter’ is essentially a contract … Unlike other public schools, parents specifically request the charter school and if the school fails to attract students, or if it fails to meet the terms of […]