by 3aidlillahi » Mon 22 Sep 2008, 17:48:17
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'R')eagan based "Reaganomics" on Arthur Laffer's theories on "supply-side" economics.
The Laffer Curve was actually discovered more than 600 years ago by the "Renaissance" ibn Khaldun who noted in his "Muqaddimah" that at first, nation's have small governments. This abundance of freedom causes great expansion of the economy through investment and invention. However, as nations become "more civilized", as he puts it, and away from Bedouin-ish forms of government (ie. become larger), they then demand more tax revenues for social programs, war, and the like. This then causes a reduction in investment and invention, thus a slowing down in the economy, leading towards fewer tax receipts. You know how the theory goes.
He doesn't spend much time on the subject in his book. But he lays it out much like I have above.
Ibn Khaldun, it should be noted, was living at the end of one of the world's great empires, much like we are. He had witnessed the economic decline across the Muslim world due to overspending by the government (among other reasons).
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')My personal observations are that corporations are rewarded (through investment growth) by not spending tax incentives and reducing expenditures. In a localized economy, this would work, but in the real world, they ship the expenditures (jobs) overseas to get the lowest price. The money never finds its way back into the real economy, and stays locked in securites.
Likely true, from my own economic understanding. That's likely why the Khaldun Curve worked so well back in his day; while they had long-distance economic trade, it's nothing compared to what we have. Most of everything was not imported nor could it be imported or labor outsourced, thus making businesses reinvest locally.
I think it's hysterical that all of the Arab and Muslim bashers are supply-side freaks - yet they don't know their beloved theory originated from a great Muslim qadi and theologian (as well as economist, sociologist, etc.).