Tariffs and Trade
September 14, 2018
On September 12, 2018, I presented my thoughts on tariffs and trade to the Golden K Kiwanis Club of Appleton. The following link provides the slides for my presentation: Tariffs and Trade
Trade Deficits: A Poor Focus for Public Policy
August 6, 2018
On June 3, 2018, the Appleton Post-Crescent published the below guest column. The hard-copy edition does not contain either the graphics or hyperlinks provided here. President Trump views trade deficits in goods (imports greater than exports) as bad for the US and claims policy should be directed at reducing the total of $811 billion excess … More Trade Deficits: A Poor Focus for Public Policy
Physician Workforce Composition Matters in Explaining Health Care Spending Differences From Those of Other High Income Countries
April 15, 2018
In a March 13, 2018 article in JAMA (2018;319(10):1024-1039), Papanicolas, Woskie, and Jha (PWJ) provide an in-depth description of “Health Care Spending in the United States and Other High-Income Countries.” Through detailed comparisons of demographics, insurance system characteristics, workforce composition, service and pharmaceutical use, and specific indicators of access and health outcomes, the authors conclude … More Physician Workforce Composition Matters in Explaining Health Care Spending Differences From Those of Other High Income Countries
To Improve the Health of the Community
March 13, 2018
The Appleton Post-Crescent has invited me to be a guest columnist. This means that I can submit a column roughly every three months. My first contribution was published online Friday, March 9th and appears below. Nonprofit health care organizations, such as ThedaCare and Ascension, exist to serve their local communities. Their nonprofit status gives them … More To Improve the Health of the Community
Make America Mercantilist Again: 6 False Premises That Underpin New US Tariff Policy
March 11, 2018
In this blog posting, I make the argument that using tariffs to reduce trade deficits and increase domestic economic well-being will be counterproductive. Furthermore, the claims made by the President (and his Commerce Secretary) to support tariffs related to steel and aluminum imports are based on false premises. In a previous posting, I defined mercantilism … More Make America Mercantilist Again: 6 False Premises That Underpin New US Tariff Policy
Tax Reform Based on Shared Principles “trumps” One Based on Competing Interests
December 5, 2017
As T. R. Reid points out in his marvelous new book, A Fine Mess, fundamental tax reform in 2018 is due if we are to follow the major reform every 32 years established in the 20th Century (with such reforms in 1986, 1954, and 1922.) The 1986 reform was exemplary in many ways; let me … More Tax Reform Based on Shared Principles “trumps” One Based on Competing Interests
How Should Wisconsin Respond To The New Opportunities To Expand Medicaid With Federal Funding?
August 24, 2017
Recently, I sent a letter to State Representative Amanda Stuck, a supporter of “BadgerCare for All”, indicating some ideas about how the state of Wisconsin, given its current political alignment, might reform its Medicaid program. “Badger Care for All” proposes that any individual (independent of his or her income) could purchase a BadgerCare insurance option (Wisconsin’s Medicaid program) , and that … More How Should Wisconsin Respond To The New Opportunities To Expand Medicaid With Federal Funding?
