, Columnist
Economists Have No Use for Republican Tax Cuts
They don't boost growth; they just add to deficits.
He said that, not me.
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One popular misconception about economists is that they love tax cuts. This is certainly the impression one gets from listening to folks on the political left. Books such as James Kwak’s “Economism” chronicle historical episodes where economic theory was appropriated by a loose coterie of pundits, think-tank scholars and Republican political advisers to justify tax cuts for the rich.
But when it comes to academic economists, the stereotype is dead wrong. As Republicans try once again to hand big tax cuts to wealthy Americans, it’s important to remember that professional economists are much more likely to side against them.