As the Social Security trust funds inch toward a historic fiscal cliff, policymakers are scrambling to identify a path toward long-term solvency. In a recent op-ed for The New York Times, Senators Bernie Moreno (R-OH) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) proposed a high-profile solution: "saving" Social Security by lifting the cap on earnings subject to the…
In an era defined by complex economic landscapes and shifting fiscal policies, the ability to navigate the U.S. tax code is no longer just a professional requirement for accountants—it is a fundamental pillar of civic engagement. Yet, a startling reality persists: a significant majority of the American public remains fundamentally disconnected from the mechanisms that…
For decades, the prevailing narrative in American political discourse has characterized the U.S. tax code as insufficiently progressive—a system often depicted as favoring the wealthy at the expense of middle- and lower-income families. However, a comprehensive new study from the Fraser Institute challenges this conventional wisdom, suggesting that the reality of the American tax structure…
As the calendar turns toward the July 1, 2026, deadline, the economic future of North America hangs in a delicate state of suspense. Trade representatives from the United States, Canada, and Mexico are currently navigating the first formal review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a pact that has served as the backbone of continental…
Brussels, June 2026 – As the European Union continues to grapple with the complexities of financing its ambitious budgetary objectives, the debate over how to capture revenue from the burgeoning digital economy has reached a fever pitch. In a formal testimony submitted to the Committee on Budgets and the European Parliament, Cristina Enache, Economist at…
For the casual enthusiast browsing a local shop or a seasoned sommelier curating a high-end cellar, the price tag on a bottle of wine is often viewed as a reflection of origin, vintage, and prestige. However, buried within that retail price is a complex, often opaque layer of government levies that remain largely invisible to…
Illinois has long been a laboratory for ambitious fiscal policy, but the state’s latest foray into digital taxation—a levy on social media platforms—appears to have bypassed the typical laboratory rigors of peer review and legislative scrutiny. Embedded quietly within the state’s massive new budget bill, the tax is being widely criticized not merely as a…
The rapid proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked a firestorm of speculation regarding the future of the global economy. As AI systems become increasingly integrated into the fabric of commerce, labor, and innovation, policymakers and industry titans alike are beginning to question whether our current tax frameworks are equipped to handle this technological shift….
For thirty-seven years, the State of Illinois has been operating under a fiscal shadow. The state’s system for taxing alcohol is not merely outdated; it is a sprawling, contradictory mess of statutes, administrative rules, and enforcement practices that have effectively been operating in defiance of the Illinois Constitution since 1988. Now, rather than seizing the…
Oregon’s implementation of its Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy, anchored by the 2021 Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act (PPRMA), represents one of the most ambitious legislative attempts in the United States to transition toward a circular economy. By shifting the financial burden of waste management from local municipalities to the producers of packaging and…
