Project 2025 has recently received significant attention and has been the subject of much discussion. Project 2025 features a 900-page plan for government administration (Mandate for Leadership) that provides domestic, political and economic policies which would significantly transform the U.S. government and American society. It was created by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank […]
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The U.S. economy continued to roll along in the first half of 2024. Economic growth continued, inflation decreased and the labor market was relatively strong. The strong economic performance was reflected by record stock market performance. The U.S. S&P 500 index (a benchmark index for U.S. large company stocks) and the NASDAQ index (technology index) […]
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In January, the Bureau of Economic Analysis released its preliminary estimate for fourth quarter 2023 economic growth in the United States. Economic growth is measured by changes in Gross Domestic Product, which is the value of goods and services produced in a given time period. Although rising interest rates slowed the economy in the first […]
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2024 will likely be another year of wrangling over government expenditures by Congress. Social Security is the largest government expenditure and expected to grow in the future due to the aging of the American population. Does Social Security pay too much to retirees? This blog provides a quick example of what Social Security typically pays to […]
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2023 began with more pessimism than optimism for global economies and stock markets. Global inflation was rampant in 2022; as a result, central banks around the world began raising interest rates in an effort to battle inflation through lower economic growth and consumer demand. Stock prices reflect expectations of future corporate profitability, so higher interest […]
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Funding the federal government (and government shutdowns) has become a hot political topic lately. This blog will explain what the government spends its money on, how the government is financed, and how and why federal debt has increased. Federal Government Spending Federal government spending consists of three major categories: mandatory spending, discretionary spending, and spending […]
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In September, the Federal Reserve decided to keep its target interest rate, the federal funds rate, unchanged. In March 2022, the Federal Reserve began the upward trek for interest rates, with 11 rate increases occurring through August 2023. The objective of the rate increases was to lower consumer and business spending, which in turn would […]
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Is it Spring yet? by Scott Wallace, Ph.D.Director and Editor, Center for Business and Economic Insight; Professor of EconomicsUW-Stevens Point School of Business and Economics Presentation Photos As I look out of the window on the last day of April, a wintry of mix of precipitation is falling over the Central Wisconsin countryside. This reminds […]
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How does a college education impact income inequality? University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point junior Kyle Pulvermacher took on this question as part of research he presented at the UW System Research in the Rotunda event on March 8 in Madison. [View Photos] Held at the State Capitol, the event invites undergraduates from across the UW System […]
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Recently there has been a lot of buzz about implementing a form of flat tax, a 30% national sales tax, to replace the current tax structure. This blog provides a simple (yet realistic) example to demonstrate the implications for taxpayers if the currently proposed federal national sales tax of 30% was implemented. Prior to the […]
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