Hello Show-Me Daily readers. I am Kacie Galbraith, research assistant and the newest addition to the Show-Me Institute team. No relation to the economist James Galbraith (nor to his late economist father, John Kenneth), although no econ college professor could resist asking whether I was part of the family. Originally from the Garden State, I completed college and a master’s degree in New York before moving to Saint Louis, where I obtained firsthand local government experience working for the City of University City.
Due to my background and interest in economics (B.A. at New York University) and public administration (M.P.A. – Syracuse University), Missouri state and local policy issues are important to me. I believe the people who are affected by the outcomes should make the decisions, and that those decisions should be economically viable. James Galbraith certainly would disagree with me when I say that extensive government regulation is not the answer to many problems that arise in society (go free markets, go!).
As a newbie here, I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite Show-Me Daily blog posts:
1. He Cannot Be Serious — about a college instructor who believes he should receive unemployment benefits. Meanwhile, he would benefit more if he reconsidered his chosen career path in a field with too many competitors and not enough positions available.
2. Stadium Subsidy Surprise — a classic example of a sports stadium that is not earning enough money to be self-sufficient, which means taxpayers to the rescue. Why should we fund activities whose benefits to the local economy do not outweigh their costs?
3. If You Need a Subsidy in Chesterfield, Where Don’t You Need One? — tax credits, tax subsidies, tax giveaways — whatever you call it, it is usually an abuse of taxpayer dollars. It is simply a way to disguise government spending to make it appear somewhat more palatable.
