PUBLICATIONS BY William W. Beach
Research
Commentary
Books
Media Appearances
2008 Research
November 10, 2008
The Global Response to a Terror-Generated Energy Crisis
By William W. Beach, James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., Ariel Cohen, Ph.D., David W. Kreutzer, Ph.D., Karen A. Campbell, Ph.D., and Hopper Smith
(Center for Data Analysis Report #08-11)
In June 2008, The Heritage Foundation invited energy scholars and policy experts to participate in a computer simulation and gaming exercise assessing the economic effects of a global petroleum energy crisis. This exercise suggests reliance on market forces and coordinated security activities did much to help restore the confidence of markets and consumers.
October 24, 2008
How to Successfully Stimulate the Economy
By William W. Beach
(WebMemo #2113)
Serious work by the Congress in tax, energy, and spending policy will create greater predictability for investors and business owners and assure workers that they will have a better chance of improving their wages through increased productivity.
October 23, 2008
Economic Recovery: Options and Challenges
By William W. Beach
(Testimony #9999)
The stock market turmoil that has captured everyone's attention is rooted in the ongoing crisis in credit markets and aggravated by the slowdown in general economic activity that stems from the ills of the financial sector. It is all the more spectacular by the extraordinary highs and lows that equity markets are recording. It almost seems that what is truly predictable about today's investment markets is just how unpredictable they have become.
October 23, 2008
The 2008 Index of Government Dependency
By William W. Beach
(Center for Data Analysis Report #08-08)
The first wave of baby boomers began to retire in 2008. We find ourselves on the eve of the largest retirement of people in world history at the same time that the number of “taxpayers” who pay no taxes is growing steadily. The Index appears to have resumed the growth rates attained during the Carter and George H. W. Bush Administrations.
October 15, 2008
The Obama and McCain Tax Plans: How Do They Compare?
By William Beach, Karen Campbell, Ph.D., Rea S. Hederman, Jr., and Guinevere Nell
(Center for Data Analysis Report #08-09)
The results in this paper are based on the specific tax policy proposals of Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain. The economy improves under each plan as compared to the CBO baseline that assumes that all of the Bush tax cuts disappear. While both candidates plan to reduce taxes compared to this scenario and each achieves his stated goal, their approaches are quite different.
June 20, 2008
Discussion of the Costs of the Iraq War
By William W. Beach
(Testimony #9999)
Testimony before the Joint Economic Committee United States Senate
May 22, 2008
Effect of the Lieberman-Warner Global Warming Legislation on States
By William W. Beach, Ben Lieberman, David W. Kreutzer, Ph.D., and Nicolas D. Loris
(WebMemo #1930)
Workers and families in the United States may be wondering how climate change legislation before Congress will affect their income, their jobs, and the cost of energy. Members of Congress are considering a number of bills designed to address climate change.
May 12, 2008
The Economic Costs of the Lieberman-Warner Climate Change Legislation
By William W. Beach, David W. Kreutzer, Ph.D., Ben Lieberman, and Nicolas D. Loris
(Center for Data Analysis Report #08-02)
The Lieberman-Warner climate change bill is, in many respects, an unprecedented proposal. Its limits on CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions would impose significant costs on virtually the entire American economy, and complicated tariff rules, dependent on evaluating the GHG restrictions of all trading partners, add another unknowable dimension to the costs, fueling the overall uncertainty.
April 15, 2008
Economic Effects of Increasing the Tax Rates on Capital Gains and Dividends
By William Beach, Rea S. Hederman, Jr., and Guinevere Nell
(WebMemo #1891)
On December 31, 2010, the low tax rates on capital gains and dividends enacted in 2003 will increase to the higher level that applied prior to that year. Many economists agree that the expiration of these tax cuts will discourage investment and slow economic growth. The United States already has one of the world’s highest capital gains tax rates.
January 18, 2008
Congressional Hearing on What Should Congress Do to Avoid a Recession
By William W. Beach
(Testimony #9999)
Congressional Hearing on What Should Congress Do to Avoid a Recession
2007 Research
December 10, 2007
Paying More at the Pump: Energy Bill Would Increase Gas Prices
By William W. Beach and Shanea Watkins, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1729)
H.R. 6 could increase the price of regular unleaded gasoline from $3.06 per gallon to $5.02 by 2016.
November 07, 2007
The End of Pro-Growth Tax Policy: How the Rangel Tax Bill Could Affect the U.S. Economy
By William W. Beach and Guinevere Nell
(WebMemo #1697)
At stake in the current debate is a shift in tax policy from emphasizing growth in the economy to emphasizing tax increases that would pay for more federal spending.
October 11, 2007
Global Climate-Change Bills Before Congress
By Ben Lieberman and William W. Beach
(Backgrounder #2075)
Climate legislation can take two forms: expanding existing measures that mandate alternative energy sources or reduce energy consumption and imposing cap-and-trade restrictions on emissions from fossil fuels. Both approaches seek to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels. Given the large cost, it is important that Congress avoid enacting legislation that does more harm than global warming itself.
July 25, 2007
If Iran Provokes an Energy Crisis: Modeling the Problem in a War Game
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., and William W. Beach
(Center for Data Analysis Report #07-03)
A focused but restrained use of military power oriented toward objectives that address vital national interests would demonstrate U.S. determination to uphold freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, help to calm global markets, and reassure American consumers, and measures liberalizing energy policies and rolling back regulatory restrictions would allow the marketplace to work to meet global energy needs.
July 11, 2007
22 Million New Smokers Needed: Funding SCHIP Expansion with a Tobacco Tax
By Michelle C. Bucci and William W. Beach
(WebMemo #1548)
Rather than making SCHIP dependent on increasing the number of smokers, Congress should refrain from narrow government program expansions and work on a broader strategy for improving access to affordable, private health insurance for all Americans.
June 26, 2007
White House Immigration Report Ducks Heritage Foundation Criticisms
By William W. Beach
(WebMemo #1524)
In the face of tough challenges to the President and the Senate's approach to immigration, the CEA asserts what everyone knows and fails to engage legitimate criticisms of their approach.
June 18, 2007
Senate Energy Bill Would Increase Gas Prices
By William W. Beach and Shanea Watkins, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1512)
Through taxes and regulations, S. 1419 could increase the price of gasoline by 104 percent by 2016.
June 04, 2007
Surety Bonds: A Better Solution Than Burdensome Workplace Immigration Enforcement
By James Sherk and William W. Beach
(WebMemo #1482)
To ensure that companies hire only legal immigrants, Congress should require them to post surety bonds guaranteeing that their employees are legally allowed to work in the United States.
June 01, 2007
The Senate's Workplace Immigration Enforcement Proposal: Too Much Federal Meddling
By Wes Dyck, William W. Beach, and James Sherk
(WebMemo #1480)
Rather than place great and unnecessary burdens on all workers and employers, Congress should focus workplace enforcement efforts where they are likely to do the most good.
February 27, 2007
Increasing IRS Tax Collection Powers Threatens More IRS Abuse: The New Congress Moves to Close the "Tax Gap"
By William W. Beach
(WebMemo #1373)
Strengthening the police powers of the IRS should be the very last step taken to collect more revenues.
February 01, 2007
The Triple Whammy of Taxes: How the AMT, Repealing the Bush Tax Cuts, and the Social Security Wage Cap Would Raise Taxes on Millions of Americans
By Rea S. Hederman, Jr., Alison Acosta Fraser, William W. Beach
(WebMemo #1334)
Three tax increases that would harm the economy and subject millions of taxpayers to significantly higher marginal tax rates.
2006 Research
December 01, 2006
The 2006 Index of Dependency
By William W. Beach
(Center for Data Analysis Report #06-11)
The 1980s and 1990s generally witnessed much slower growth in the Index. If the 1989–1993 period had reflected the policies of 1981–1988 and 1994–2001 periods, the Index would have decreased in value. However, rather than fall, the Index appears to have resumed the growth rates maintained during the Carter and George H. W. Bush Administrations.
November 20, 2006
Milton Friedman, the Father of Economic Freedom
By Tim Kane, Ph.D., Bill Beach, and Andrew Peek
(WebMemo #1259)
Milton Friedman's accomplishments and ideas, particularly in the realm of economic liberty, continue to transform the world today.
August 02, 2006
Dog Days in the Senate
By William W. Beach
(WebMemo #1185)
Tax legislation would breathe new life into left-wing policy prescriptions.
March 27, 2006
Public Policy in the Age of Entitlements
By William W. Beach
(Heritage Lecture #931)
The present value of the crisis in U.S. pension and health programs exceeds by five times the current size of the U.S. economy. Social Security and Medicare, therefore, need to be reformed immediately, both to secure the ability of the system to deliver on its promises to beneficiaries and to enable today's workers to look forward to more income in retirement.
February 16, 2006
Make the Dividend and Capital Gains Tax Rates Permanent to Keep the Economy Growing
By Rea S. Hederman, Jr., and William W. Beach
(Backgrounder #1914)
Thanks in part to the reduced cost of capital, business investment has grown in every quarter since the 2003 tax cut, but the average taxation of dividends will become 28 percent if JGTRRA provisions are allowed to expire. Extending the 2003 tax rates or making them permanent would reinforce a central element of good economic policy: predictable and stable tax law.
February 09, 2006
The Bush Budget's Hidden Gold: Dynamic Scoring Comes to the Treasury
By William W. Beach
(WebMemo #994)
At last, real economics will guide tax policy.
January 05, 2006
Make the Bush Tax Cuts Permanent
By William W. Beach and Rea S. Hederman, Jr.
(WebMemo #956)
If the tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 are allowed to expire, millions of working families will see their economic prospects dim.
2005 Research
December 02, 2005
The November Jobs Report: An Early Christmas Present
By Rea S. Hederman, Jr., and William W. Beach
(WebMemo #929)
Strong jobs numbers show the importance of extending expiring provisions of the 2003 tax cuts.
August 05, 2005
Revised! Job Creation Better Than Ever
By William W. Beach and Tim Kane, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #815)
The new job number continue to impress--including big revisions to recent data.
June 30, 2005
Hispanic Workers Should Back Personal Accounts
By William W. Beach and Andrew M. Grossman
(WebMemo #782)
Contrary to a recent report, Hispanics would benefit from personal accounts.
June 21, 2005
The Likely Economic Effects of Solving Social Security's Financial Imbalance Through Revenue Enhancements
By William W. Beach
(Testimony #9999)
The Subcommittee on Social Security of the House Ways and Means Committee.
June 13, 2005
The 2005 Index of Dependency
By William W. Beach
(Center for Data Analysis Report #05-05)
The Index of Dependency appears to have regained the growth rates of the Carter and Bush years. Although this appears to be due mostly to spending opportunities provided by budget surpluses rather than to dramatic reversals in conservative public policy, several key policy debates of the next few years (e.g., welfare reform, federal support for higher education, and health care reform) will probably determine the rate of change for the next decade, if not well beyond.
June 08, 2005
Measuring the Fairness of a Tax System
By William W. Beach
(Testimony #9999)
Testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee.
April 14, 2005
How Federal Death Taxes and the Alternate Minimum Tax Challenge America's Small Businesses
By William W. Beach
(Testimony #9999)
It hardly exaggerates the importance of small businesses to U.S. economic performance to state that economic activity would be substantially less without a deep and healthy layer of small businesses.
April 12, 2005
Now Is (Still) the Time to Permanently Repeal Federal Death Taxes
By William W. Beach
(WebMemo #720)
It's like Groundhog Day: repeal of the estate tax just keeps coming up.
April 06, 2005
A Responsible Way to Reconcile the House and Senate Budget Resolutions
By Brian M. Riedl, William W. Beach, Nina Owcharenko, Ben Lieberman, and David C. John
(Backgrounder #1842)
Although the House and Senate budget resolutions do not include deep spending cuts, it is important that lawmakers begin the reform process. The best budget plan would expand pro-growth tax relief and begin to rein in spending in areas such as Medicaid and farm subsidies. Such actions could lay the groundwork for larger reforms next year.
January 13, 2005
The Unacceptable Costs of Raising Payroll Taxes to "Save" Social Security
By Rea S. Hederman, Jr., William W. Beach, and Andrew Grossman
(WebMemo #639)
Small fixes turn out not to be so small.
2004 Research
September 20, 2004
The Candidates' Tax Plans: Comparing the Economic and Fiscal Effects of the Bush and Kerry Tax Proposals
By William W. Beach, Ralph A. Rector, Ph.D., Rea S. Hederman, Jr., Alfredo B. Goyburu, and Tim Kane, Ph.D.
(Center for Data Analysis Report #04-09)
Senator John Kerry's tax plan slows economic activity until 2011, when it generally adopts President George Bush's approach of permanent tax cuts. Even so, the Bush plan consistently outperforms the Kerry plan. President Bush relies on supply-side tax changes while Senator Kerry focuses much of his attention on demand-side policy with targeted tax policy changes that yield the unintended consequence of producing a tax cut for high-income taxpayers after 2011.
September 10, 2004
Peace of Mind in Retirement: Making Future Generations Better Off by Fixing Social Security
By William W. Beach, Alfredo B. Goyburu, Ralph A. Rector, Ph.D., David C. John, Kirk A. Johnson, Ph.D., and Thomas Bingel
(Center for Data Analysis Report #04-06)
American workers could accumulate wealth in the thousands (in some cases, hundreds of thousands) of dollars through a Social Security reform that includes personal retirement accounts. This increased wealth would be in addition to a maintenance level of Social Security benefits and could help millions of parents, their children, and their grandchildren to attain greater economic security and independence through their own personalized retirement assets.
June 30, 2004
Questions and Answers About Inflation
By Norbert Michel and William Beach
(WebMemo #526)
This paper provides a basic guide to inflation—what it is, how it works, and how the Fed tries to manage it
April 29, 2004
First Quarter GDP: Above Average Again
By Rea S. Hederman, Jr., and William Beach
(WebMemo #493)
Today's numbers may presage employment growth, and they are just the latest evidence of the power of the President's tax cuts.
April 16, 2004
How Would Senator Kerry's Tax Proposals Affect the Economy?
By William W. Beach
(WebMemo #483)
The net effect of Kerry's tax plan is a slower economy and job creation significantly below potential.
February 11, 2004
The Economic Impact of Taxing Internet Access
By Norbert J. Michel, Ph.D., and William W. Beach
(WebMemo #424)
Economic analysis predicts that taxing the Internet would reduce GDP, disposable income, and employment.
February 06, 2004
Increased Investment Pushes January Job Growth
By William W. Beach, Alison Acosta Fraser, Rea S. Hederman, Jr., and Tim Kane
(WebMemo #416)
The President's pro-growth economic plan – and his tax cuts, especially – contributed to last month's increase in employment.
February 05, 2004
The President's 2005 Budget: Permanent Tax Cuts and a More Prosperous Future
By William W. Beach
(WebMemo #415)
The President has proposed one of the most far-reaching economic growth plans in the past 30 years. Congress should not squander this chance for a more prosperous future.
January 22, 2004
Make the Temporary Tax Cuts Permanent Tax Reductions
By William W. Beach
(WebMemo #403)
As the President urged, Congress must act immediately to make the temporary tax cuts enacted in 2001 permanent. Otherwise, the economic improvement that is seemingly springing up all around the country will disappear.
January 09, 2004
Unemployment Report: Manufacturing Down, Service Up; Long Term Trends Still Positive
By William W. Beach, Alison Acosta Fraser and Rea S. Hederman Jr.
(WebMemo #388)
Today's employment report is not good. But there is still reason for Americans to be optimistic. It also reveals some longer-term, positive employment trends.
2003 Research
December 05, 2003
The Beat Goes On: Unemployment Drops
By William W. Beach, Alison Acosta Fraser and Rea S. Hederman Jr.
(WebMemo #380)
For the first time since March the unemployment rate is below 6 percent. Widespread evidence suggests this economic growth will continue throughout 2004 and probably 2005.
November 07, 2003
Tax Cuts Working: Over 1 Million New Jobs
By William W. Beach and Rea S. Hederman Jr.
(WebMemo #363)
The announcement by the Bureau of Labor Statistics that employment has grown by 126,000 in October and by nearly as much in September marks the third month of improvement in the employment survey. What's important about these latest figures is their signal that the economy is well along in its recovery, and it's a strong recovery, to boot.
November 03, 2003
Jobs Creation Act: Original Bill Provides Most Growth
By William W. Beach and Alfredo Goyburu
(WebMemo #359)
The American Jobs Creation Act of 2003 that was sent to the full House on October 28 is an anemic, willowy version of the original legislation as authored by Ways and Means Chairman Bill Thomas. If Congress really intends to use this legislation to assist the economic recovery and expand the job market then conferees should fight to include as much of the original language of H.R. 2896 as possible.
October 10, 2003
What Mainstream Economic Models Tell Us About Wealth Taxes and Changing Tax Policy
By William W. Beach
(Heritage Lecture #799)
Analytical work using economic modeling has helped to disprove many misconceptions about President Bush's Economic Growth Package. Tax policy changes that might strike some as being too expensive for the government to undertake turn out to be highly affordable when it is shown that they stimulate higher economic growth and benefit average Americans.
August 12, 2003
How Much Will the Senate Drug Bill Cost a Family of Four?
By Derek Hunter and William Beach
(WebMemo #306)
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the Senate Medicare prescription drug bill will cost $400 billion over the next 10 years. This cost, however, is not the whole story.
July 30, 2003
New Medicare Drug Entitlement's Huge New Tax on Working Americans
By Brian M. Riedl and William W. Beach
(Backgrounder #1673)
President George W. Bush and many in Congress cite tax relief as the centerpiece of their economic agenda. Lawmakers who vote for the Medicare drug benefit are voting for a $2 trillion tax increase. Responsible lawmakers who oppose such substantial tax increases should look beyond the 2004 election and examine the burden that a Medicare drug burden will impose on future generations.
June 16, 2003
Now is the Time to Permanently Repeal Federal Death Taxes
By William W. Beach
(WebMemo #295)
The House vote to permanently remove estate taxes from the tax code beginning in 2011 is required because Congress failed to do so in 2001. By doing so, Congress will fulfill its promise of ending this tax on economic virtue and productivity that has done considerable damage to our economic and community life.
June 05, 2003
Say No To the "Refundable" Child Tax Credit
By Norbert Michel and William W. Beach
(WebMemo #286)
Taxpayers in lower income groups benefited from the President's 2001 tax law. Some lawmakers, in a recent controversy over the 2003 tax law, seek to send larger checks to families who already pay no federal income taxes and already receive a check from the government.
May 23, 2003
Economic Impact Analysis of the Jobs and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003
By William W. Beach, Alfredo Goyburu, and Rea S. Hederman
(WebMemo #281)
The Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 that the House and Senate passed on May 23 contains some strong pro-growth elements, specifically accelerating the 2001 marginal rate cuts, lowering the taxation of dividends and capital gains and allowing businesses to accelerate depreciation deductions on their investments.
April 16, 2003
The Economic and Fiscal Effects of the President's Growth Package
By William W. Beach, Ralph A. Rector, Alfredo Goyburu, and Norbert J. Michel
(Center for Data Analysis Report #03-05)
Congressional efforts to fashion the FY 2004 budget come at a time when the United States faces weaker than expected job growth, shrinking consumer confidence, and a heightened level of risk and uncertainty. Among the plans being considered is one that President George W. Bush proposed on January 7, 2003: a bold tax reform proposal that would increase economic growth.
April 16, 2003
Appendix: The Economic and Fiscal Effects of the President's Growth Package
By William W. Beach, Ralph A. Rector, Ph.D., Alfredo Goyburu, and Norbert J. Michel
(Center for Data Analysis Report #03-05)
Appendix: The Economic and Fiscal Effects of the President's Growth Package
March 20, 2003
A Side-by-Side Comparison of President Bush's and Senator Daschle's
By William W. Beach
(WebMemo #231)
Breif overview showing how significant differences between the two plans become all the more evident in subsequent years.
February 17, 2003
The President's Economic Growth Plan
By William W. Beach
(WebMemo #210)
The President has proposed tax policy changes that can be analyzed using a model of the U.S. economy.
January 23, 2003
Death Taxes: Killing the Economy
By William W. Beach
(WebMemo #189)
Death taxes seriously impede job creation and wage growth for Americans who will never have to file a federal estate tax form.
2002 Research
December 20, 2002
An Overview of the Index of Dependency
By William W. Beach
(Center for Data Analysis Report #02-09)
The Index of Dependency plots the growth of federal programs that substitute for similar initiatives at lower levels of government and civil society. It increased during the 60s and 70s due to the federal government's proliferation, and also since 1980 because of administrations' reluctance to reduce the federal government's size.
September 03, 2002
The Future of the Subsidy State
By Hon. Jim DeMint, David T. Beito, Peter N. Kirsanow, and William W. Beach
(Heritage Lecture #759)
The Index raises concerns about the ability of local governments to provide aid and other assistance. They raise as well a traditional republican concern about the long-term viability of political institutions when a significant portion of the population becomes dependent on government for most or all of their income.
May 30, 2002
The Key Behavioral Elements Needed in a Model for Budget Estimation
By Gary Robbins, Aldona Robbins, and William W. Beach
(Backgrounder #1558)
Policymakers and decision-makers in Washington must insist that those who estimate the effects of a tax policy change on the federal government's revenues incorporate the economic effects of such change in their analysis.
May 24, 2002
The Senate's Response to the President's Faith-Based Agenda
By Joseph Loconte and William W. Beach
(Backgrounder #1555)
Amending the CARE Act in certain ways would advance the President's commitment to promote what he calls the "armies of compassion" to combat family and social breakdown. By emphasizing tax incentives to boost charitable giving, the bill would properly focus attention on the role of private philanthropy in addressing social ills.
March 13, 2002
Depreciation Tax Breaks for Business
By William W. Beach
(WebMemo #86)
Some state governments are concerned that allowing businesses to reduce their taxes by accelerating some of their depreciation will cut deeply into state revenues. This concern is misplaced. Rather than hurt, lower business taxes leads to greater prosperity, which means stronger state revenues.
March 12, 2002
Evaluation of the National Energy Policy
By William W. Beach, Charli E. Coon, and Rea S. Hederman
(Center for Data Analysis Report #02-01)
Econometric and Policy Evaluation of the National Energy Policy
2001 Research
December 06, 2001
The Economics of Stimulus Legislation
By William W. Beach
(Testimony #9999)
We have a recession produced by policy errors and aggravated by hostilities. Those hostilities call forth policy responses that are compassionate and generous. In neither case, however, are the needs of the injured or the weaknesses of the economy met through spending programs that bear a weak connection to the economic slowdown and the terrorist attacks.
November 09, 2001
The Effects of Bush's and Daschle's Economic Stimulus Plans
By William W. Beach, D. Mark Wilson, Rea S. Hederman, and Ralph A. Rector
(Center for Data Analysis Report #01-09)
The two current economic stimulus plans reflect the two major views of government's role in economic planning. While both plans transfer income to low- and moderate-income taxpayers through rebates, and assist the unemployed, serious questions have been raised about whether government spending is the way to boost economic activity.
November 07, 2001
The Effects of Bush's & Daschle's Economic Stimulus Plans
By William W. Beach, D. Mark Wilson, Rea S. Hederman and Ralph A. Rector
(WebMemo #53)
The two current economic stimulus plans clearly reflect the two major views of government's role in economic planning. While both plans transfer income to low- and moderate-income taxpayers through rebates and both assist the unemployed, serious questions have been raised about whether increased government spending is the best tool for boosting economic activity.
November 05, 2001
CDA01-08: How Economic Stimulus Proposals Would Effect the Economy
By William W. Beach, D. Mark Wilson, Rea S. Hederman, and Ralph A. Rector
(Center for Data Analysis Report #01-08)
CDA01-08: How the Economic Stimulus Proposals of the Administration, the House, and the Senate Would Effect the Economy
May 15, 2001
Tax Rate Relief, Not Rebates, Is the Key to a Stronger Economy
By D. Mark Wilson and William W. Beach
(Backgrounder #1440)
Policymakers should ignore the siren song of rebates and pursue sound tax policy that lowers tax rates across the board and leads to economic growth, more job opportunities, and increased investment.
April 27, 2001
The Economic Impact of President Bush's Tax Relief Plan
By D. Mark Wilson and William W. Beach
(Center for Data Analysis Report #01-01)
This dynamic analysis shows that President Bush's tax plan will boost economic activity, create over 1.6 million new jobs, and strengthen the incomes of taxpayers.
April 04, 2001
Time to Repeal Federal Death Taxes (Backgrounder)
By William W. Beach
(Backgrounder #1428)
Bolstered by President Bush's tax proposal that includes death tax repeal, Congress should make eliminating the death tax a priority this year.
April 04, 2001
Time to Repeal Federal Death Taxes
By William W. Beach
(Backgrounder #1428ES)
The policy of using the estate tax to redistribute economic power leads to a distorted distribution of consumption and a less productive economy. Both of these unexpected outcomes worsen the economic condition of the less economically powerful.
March 07, 2001
The Economic and Budgetary Effects of H.R. 3
By D. Mark Wilson, William W. Beach and Rea S. Hederman, Jr.
(Center for Data Analysis Report #01-02)
The Economic and Budgetary Effects of H.R. 3, The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Act of 2001
March 06, 2001
How Faulty Official Figures Greatly Overstate the Cost
By William W. Beach, Daniel J. Mitchell, and D. Mark Wilson
(Backgrounder #1416)
How Faulty Official Figures Greatly Overstate the Cost of the Bush Tax Plan
2000 Research
October 19, 2000
The Effects of Gore's and Bush's Economic Plans
By D. Mark Wilson and William W. Beach
(Center for Data Analysis Report #00-11)
The Economic and Budgetary Effects of Vice President Gore's and Governor Bush's Economic Plans
June 08, 2000
Time to Eliminate the Costly Death Tax
By William W. Beach
(Executive Memorandum #679)
Time to Eliminate the Costly Death Tax
February 08, 2000
Who Pays the Marriage Penalty?
By William W. Beach and Rea S. Hederman, Jr.
(Center for Data Analysis Report #00-02)
Not only does this feature of the tax system stand as a likely obstacle to marriage, it can actually discourage a spouse from entering the workforce.
1999 Research
September 13, 1999
How Tax Bill Would Affect Families, The Economy, and The Budget
By D. Mark Wilson, William W. Beach, Ralph A. Rector, Ph.D., and Rea S. Hederman, Jr.
(Center for Data Analysis Report #99-06)
The Taxpayer Refund and Relief Act of 1999 (H.R. 2488) promises to give Americans the largest tax reduction since 1981.
August 27, 1999
How Reliable Are IMF Economic Forecasts?
By William W. Beach, Aaron B. Schavey, and Isabel M. Isidro
(Center for Data Analysis Report #99-05)
Last October, Congress passed the 1999 Omnibus Appropriations Act, which, among other things, allocates $18 billion to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
July 13, 1999
The Costs of Transitioning to a Solvent Social Security System
By David C. John and William W. Beach
(Testimony #9999)
High transition costs will be a fact of life for Social Security regardless of whether the program is radically reformed or just left as it is.
June 23, 1999
Why Cutting Taxes in the District of Columbia Will Lead to Economic Growth
By William W. Beach
(Testimony #9999)
The long economic expansion and wise tax policy changes in the last two Congresses account in part for the District's stunning decision to cut taxes.
April 13, 1999
BG1270ES: Use the Surplus to Cut Taxes and Begin Tax Reform
By William W. Beach
(Executive Summary #1270)
BG1270ES: How Congress Can Use the Surplus to Cut Taxes and Begin Fundamental Tax Reform
April 13, 1999
Use the Surplus to Cut Taxes and Begin Tax Reform
By William W. Beach
(Backgrounder #1270)
The congressional leadership has signaled its intention to make tax reduction a priority.
March 04, 1999
The Effects of Reducing Federal Income Tax Rates by 10 Percent
By William W. Beach, D. Mark Wilson, Ralph A. Rector, Ph.D., Rea S. Hederman, Jr., and Aaron Schavey
(Center for Data Analysis Report #99-02)
The House and Senate Republican leadership recently announced their interest in using a portion of the current and expected consolidated budget surplus to cut individual income tax payments.
1998 Research
December 17, 1998
Calculating Social Security's Rate of Return
By William W. Beach and Gareth G. Davis
(Executive Memorandum #564)
President Bill Clinton and a variety of experts have argued that Social Security's rate of return needs to be higher.
December 11, 1998
Social Security's Rate of Return: A Reply to Our Critics
By William W. Beach and Gareth G. Davis
(Center for Data Analysis Report #98-08)
Social Security's Rate of Return: A Reply to Our Critics
November 20, 1998
Mounting World Crisis
By Kim R. Holmes, Ph.D., William W. Beach, James A. Anderson, Ph.D.,James Phillips, Daryl M. Plunk, and Richard D. Fisher, Jr.
(Heritage Lecture #628)
Clinton must deal with Russian economic troubles, Iraqi intransigence, China-Taiwan tentions, North Korean missiles, and global terrorism and ecnomic chaos.
October 16, 1998
How Public Policy Reforms Would
By William W. Beach, Gareth G. Davis, Rea S. Hederman, Kirk Johnson, and Nina Shokraii Rees
(Backgrounder #1227)
How Public Policy Reforms Would Unleash Hispanic America's Economic Potential
October 16, 1998
BG1227es: How Public Policy Reform
By William W. Beach, Gareth G. Davis, Rea S. Hederman, Kirk Johnson, and Nina Shokraii Rees
(Executive Summary #1227)
BG1227es: How Public Policy Reform Would Unleash Hispanic America's Economic Potential
September 10, 1998
Why Taxes Affect Economic Growth
By William W. Beach
(Heritage Lecture #624)
Why Taxes Affect Economic Growth
September 09, 1998
BG1219: How Congress Can Return the Surplus
By William W. Beach
(Backgrounder #1219)
How Congress Can Return the Surplus to Taxpayers: Three Approaches to Tax Cuts and Social Security Reform
September 09, 1998
BG1219es: How Congress Can Return the Surplus
By William W. Beach
(Executive Summary #1219)
BG1219es: How Congress Can Return the Surplus to Taxpayers: Three Approaches to Tax Cuts and Social Security Reform
September 07, 1998
Social Security's Rates of Return for Union Households
By William W. Beach and Gareth G. Davis
(Center for Data Analysis Report #98-06)
Social Security's Rates of Return for Union Households
July 30, 1998
A State-By-State Analysis
By William W. Beach, Gareth G. Davis, and Sarah E. Youssef
(Center for Data Analysis Report #98-05)
A State-by-State Analysis of the Returns From Social Security
July 13, 1998
Analyzing The CRS Social Security Study
By William W. Beach and Gareth G. Davis
(Center for Data Analysis Report #98-04)
Analyzing The CRS Social Security Study
June 25, 1998
BG1197: A Scorecard on Death Tax Reform
By William W. Beach
(Backgrounder #1197)
BG1197: A Scorecard on Death Tax Reform
June 25, 1998
BG1197es: A Scorecard on Death Tax Reform
By William W. Beach
(Executive Summary #1197)
BG1197es: A Scorecard on Death Tax Reform
June 25, 1998
A Scorecard on Death Tax Reform
By William W. Beach
(Backgrounder #1197)
A Scorecard on Death Tax Reform
March 27, 1998
Rate of Return For Hispanic Americans
By William W. Beach and Gareth G. Davis
(Center for Data Analysis Report #98-02)
Social Security's Rate of Return For Hispanic Americans
March 27, 1998
Tasa De Rendimiento Del Seguro Social Para Los HispanoAmericanos
By William W. Beach and Gareth G. Davis
(Center for Data Analysis Report #98-02)
Social Security's Rate of Return For Hispanic Americans
February 24, 1998
Rollover Flexible Spending Accounts
By Robert E. Moffit, Ph.D. and William W. Beach
(Backgrounder #1159)
Rollover Flexible Spending Accounts: More Health Choices for Americans
January 15, 1998
Social Security's Rate of Return
By William W. Beach and Gareth E. Davis
(Center for Data Analysis Report #98-01)
Social Security's Rate of Return
1997 Research
June 11, 1997
BG1122: How Congress Can Deliver
By Scott A. Hodge, William W. Beach, John S. Barry, and Rea Hederman
(Backgrounder #1122)
BG1122: How Congress Can Deliver the Best Tax Cut Plan for the Money
1996 Research
August 21, 1996
BG1091: The Case for Repealing the Estate Tax
By William W. Beach
(Backgrounder #1091)
BG1091: The Case for Repealing the Estate Tax
May 01, 1996
BG1078: Is There a Clinton Crunch?
By Scott A. Hodge, William W. Beach, and Mark Wilson
(Backgrounder #1078)
BG1078: Is There a Clinton Crunch?: How the 1993 Budget Plan Affected the Economy
February 12, 1996
Worst Case Scenario: Flat Tax Would Boost Home Values by 7 Percent or More
By William W. Beach and Daniel J. Mitchell
(FYI #87)
Last year, the National Association of Realtors hired Data Resources Inc./McGraw-Hill, a leading economic firm, to analyze the economic effects of a flat tax. The resulting study concluded that the enactment of this tax, which would treat all taxpayers and all income equally, would result in a 15 percent drop in housing values, 1due largely to the elimination of the home mortgage interest deduction...
2008 Commentary
March 01, 2008
Why Tax Cuts Still Matter
By William W. Beach
Once again, presidential politics has turned to tax policy.
The candidates are debating not only whether the sluggish economy justifies another round of tax cuts, but whether the tax cuts enacted by President Bush in 2001 and 2003 should be allowed to expire or made permanent once and for all.
2006 Commentary
March 03, 2006
A Way To Test-Drive Tax Policy
By William W. Beach
One of the most significant initiatives of President George W. Bush's 2007 budget proposal has gone virtually unnoticed. And no wonder: How could a move to improve the way the federal government analyzes tax policy compete with news about cutting outdated programs, making the U.S. more competitive, and winning the global war on terrorism?
2005 Commentary
July 25, 2005
How to really help the poor
By William W. Beach
Everyone agrees we should do everything we can to help poor Americans earn more. But one of the worst ways for Congress to attempt to do that is, paradoxically, one of the most popular: raising the minimum wage.
February 07, 2005
State of the Union: Bush's vision, budget realities
By William W. Beach
It was a Wednesday night in Washington that few in the nation's power elite will soon forget. Only a few minutes into his fifth State of the Union speech, President Bush announced a virtual no-growth budget
January 28, 2005
Consider A Few Facts About African Americans and Social Security
By David C. John and William W. Beach
Contra Krugman, Social Security really is a bad deal for African Americans.
2004 Commentary
December 17, 2004
Don't Delay Reform
By William W. Beach
Advocates of Social Security reform and their skeptical friends agree that the nation's primary retirement system needs structural reform. Soon there will be too many retirees and too few workers to make the pay-as-you-go system work.
August 23, 2004
Killing Off the Death Tax
By William W. Beach
It sounds surprising at first blush, but the people working the hardest to save the federal estate tax, or "death tax," are some of the country's richest.
January 28, 2004
Standing by my research for Heritage
By William W. Beach
Is the president lying when he says the Social Security system is a bad deal for African-Americans?
2003 Commentary
September 25, 2003
The Coming Medicare Tax Increase
By Brian Riedl & William Beach
"If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it's free," P.J. O'Rourke once said. He may as well have been describing the Medicare drug benefit being hatched by President Bush and Congress. They're on the verge of approving the most expensive government expansion since the Great Society.
April 03, 2003
A Tale of Two Tax Plans
By William W. Beach
A Tale of Two Tax Plans: The tax cut proposed by Senate Minority Leader Daschle will give gross domestic product a bigger boost in the first year, but the Bush plan promotes more long-term, lasting growth.
March 17, 2003
The Truth About Deficits
By William W. Beach
The Truth About Deficits
January 23, 2003
Just what our economy needs
By William W. Beach
Just what our economy needs
2002 Commentary
July 30, 2002
Too Much "Static"
By William W. Beach
Too Much "Static"
2001 Commentary
May 16, 2001
Shelve the Rebates and Bring on the Rate Cuts
By William Beach and Mark Wilson
Shelve the Rebates and Bring on the Rate Cuts
March 01, 2001
The Death Tax Must Die
By William W. Beach
The Death Tax Must Die
February 21, 2001
Bush's Tax Plan: By the Numbers
By William Beach and Mark Wilson
Bush's Tax Plan: By the Numbers
2000 Commentary
October 05, 2000
Where are the 'COPS' when you need them?
By William W. Beach
Where are the 'COPS' when you need them?
1995 Commentary
December 20, 1995
Not Just A Rich Man's Issue
By William W. Beach
Not Just A Rich Man's Issue
