The school choice revolution in the form of universal ESAs is sweeping the nation. This is extraordinary news for students, parents, teachers, and the economy.

Florida recently became the fourth state to adopt universal school choice in 2023. Earlier this year, Iowa, Utah, and Arkansas joined the rebellion against “public” school monopolies by passing universal school choice after West Virginia and Arizona ignited the revolution last year. There are now more than 10 states with education savings accounts (ESAs), and more likely coming soon.

But Texas, Louisiana, Ohio, Alabama, and other states must follow their lead or have their students and economies be left behind.

Although there are still naysayers slowing progress, the tide for school choice is growing as more parents and teachers are persuaded that school choice empowers them and their students. But an often overlooked benefit of school choice is it supports a stronger economy.

Evidence shows that school choice is connected to improved student outcomes, increased teacher pay, and growing economic opportunity, to name a few of its benefits. School choice’s positive effects on these measures counter the problems in the “public” school system, which is an oxymoron.

“Public” schools can exclude students, which a public good can’t do. Also, any positive benefit of this so-called “public good” is questionable at best, given declining test scores and long waiting lines for charter schools.

More accurately named, government schools are funded by taxpayers and operated by government employees. As the only “free” option and a monopoly in states without school choice, government schools have little incentive to improve the flawed one-size-fits-few approach.

This also contributes to many high-quality teachers being underpaid. Government schools have few reasons to efficiently manage funds because they keep getting more taxpayer money regardless of their outcomes. This helps explain why too much money goes to over-paid administrators instead of teachers, and taxpayers don’t get what they pay for regarding academic and work outcomes.

Taxpayers pay about $16,000 per student per year, and that continues to increase over time even after adjusting for inflation. And yet, our students are underperforming academically, falling behind kids in other countries. These outcomes were exacerbated by school shutdowns during the pandemic that left students even less equipped, but this has been a longer-term trend.

More school choice is needed to motivate government schools to stop promoting mediocrity.

In states like Arizona, where all students above the age of five who live in the state are allotted the same amount of funds, parents of all types now have a range of options, no matter their demographic or socioeconomic status.

School choice is finally letting free markets, meaning free people, work in an arena that’s been monopolized by the government for too long.

Yes, taxpayers would still fund ESAs. But until states decide to get out of the schooling market, the next best alternative is to allow competition whereby the dollars follow the child instead of to a system.

In states like Florida with ESAs, parents can vote with their dollars on the best schooling options for their children, forcing all schools, including government schools, to stay competitive if they hope to attract and keep students by providing the best educational outcomes and extracurricular activities.

Giving families more freedom to choose schools, tutoring, and other resources for their unique kids will better equip them to perform better academically and in their careers.

Instead of most students — and almost all underprivileged students — being shuffled through the same one-size-fits-few government schooling system, ESAs allow students to flourish into well-rounded adults, leading to better careers, a more productive workforce, and a faster-growing economy.

The positive economic ripple effects of a society with more access to better education are myriad.

More educated societies tend to experience less crime, decreasing burdens on public services and increasing social trust, which is crucial for the economy. Additionally, more education is linked to higher incomes and improved health. These reduce the number of people in poverty, which reduces the number of people dependent on safety nets funded by taxpayer money, thereby reducing government spending and taxes, resulting in even better economic outcomes.

All these elements are conducive to happier, healthier people with more means to prosper, produce, and innovate, which in many ways is the bedrock of a better economy and livelihoods.

With more than 10 states providing the option of ESAs, including four states providing universal ESAs this year, why not take it to all 50? Texas, Louisiana, Ohio, Alabama, and others ought to be next or risk their students and economies being left behind.

Originally posted at the Daily Caller.

​Budgeting responsibly is key to Louisiana’s Comeback Agenda, and Pelican’s Chief Economist, Dr. Vance Ginn, has released a plan to rein-in state spending.

Check out the proposed Responsible Louisiana Budget, below. This plan gives Louisiana a competitive advantage and is similar to those used in other states, like Texas and Florida, limiting the amount of funding appropriated at the beginning of each fiscal year, which has made lower taxes possible.

Originally posted at Pelican Institute.

Louisiana doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and neither does opportunity. When it comes to the harsh reality of attracting entrepreneurs, creating new jobs and keeping our kids and grandkids home, Louisiana must reckon with the reality that we’re competing against other states in a national — and global — race for a brighter future.

That’s why Louisiana’s economic environment matters, and why eliminating the state’s income tax is so critical — no matter how difficult it might be — before more employers and families flee our state. Naysayers try to shoot down reforms with scare tactics, as if it’s a zero-sum game in which tax cuts and a strong state can’t coexist. That’s why taking a holistic view of the state’s tax and budget policies is necessary.

Eliminating the state’s income tax doesn’t have to mean massive cuts or a big tax swap. The Pelican Institute has proposed a plan to flatten personal income taxes, phase them out using extra taxpayer dollars collected above a stronger spending limit and budget responsibly to meet the needs of the state.

When we’re talking about taxes, don’t forget whose money it is. Those are hard-earned dollars that belong to Louisianans, and taxes leave them with less money in their pocket for putting food on the table, gas in their tanks and capital for starting a business. Is it any wonder that so many Louisianans leave for states where they can keep more of their money?

When families gather around their kitchen table or businesses look at their balance sheets, take-home pay makes a difference. That’s why Louisiana should phase out income taxes as soon as possible. This is fundamental to ensuring that Louisiana can compete with our neighbors, attract and retain talent and become an economic powerhouse. This is the comeback story we can write together.

Originally published at The Advocate. 

The hearing is scheduled for today at 10 am ET at Longworth House Office Building: Hearing on the U.S. Tax Code Subsidizing Green Corporate Handouts and the Chinese Communist Party. 

Below is the video of the full hearing (my statement starts at time 27:30 with other comments throughout the 4-hour-long hearing).

And below that is my written testimony based on this recent research on The Inflation Reduction Act's Costly New Tax Credits for Electric Vehicle Batteries and the policy brief.

​In Let People Prosper episode #40, I talk with Max Gulker, Ph.D., about whether Big Tech is a monopoly, FTC's overreach with regulations, & benefits of network effects to let people prosper.

​On today's episode of the "Let People Prosper" show, which was recorded on March 21, 2023, I'm thankful to be joined by Dr. Max Gulker, Senior Policy Analyst at Reason Foundation.
We discuss:

1. The myth about "big tech" companies being a "monopoly," such as Amazon, Twitter, etc.;
2. The antitrust and regulatory threats by Federal Trade Commission’s Chair Lina Khan (here’s her foundational article); and
3. The future of technology for us to prosper with network effects and freedom.

You can watch this interview on YouTube or listen to it on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast, or Anchor (please share, subscribe, like, and leave a 5-star rating).

​Dr. Gulker’s bio and other info (here):

• Max Gulker, Ph.D., is a senior policy analyst at Reason Foundation.
  Gulker’s research and writing bring a fresh perspective to social policy issues and debates. Gulker's recent research topics include welfare and work requirements, the impact of recent government policy on urban poverty, childcare, and cash assistance. Rather than traditional top-down approaches, Gulker looks for social policy alternatives where the private, public and non-profit sectors empower, rather than dictate to, people, families, and communities in need.
• Prior to joining Reason Foundation, Gulker spent five years with the American Institute for Economic Research, where he wrote on social policy, including employment, education and healthcare, and emerging technology, including cryptocurrency, tech antitrust, and the sharing economy. Gulker has appeared on television news outlets including the Fox Business Channel, print media including the Wall Street Journal, and podcasts including Kibbe On Liberty. He has presented research, given speeches, and participated in panels at conferences on economics, technology and politics.
• Gulker received his BA in Economics from the University of Michigan in 2000 and his Ph.D. in economics from Stanford University in 2008. Prior to entering the policy research field, he spent several years in the private sector, consulting on litigation including antitrust, intellectual property, bankruptcy and shareholder class actions.
• Follow him on Twitter @maxg_econ.

For show notes, thoughtful economic insights, media interviews, speeches, blog posts, research, and more at my personal website or Substack newsletter where you can get every episode in your inbox.