by Wyoming Liberty Group Staff As a political economist I am the first to admit that the final word on any policy reform goes to facts and impartial analysis. There are many times when I have recommended against reforms even though they were ideologically desirable, simply because the economic and fiscal aspects of the reform did not work out right...

by Wyoming Liberty Group Staff The State of Arizona has an ESA program (Empowerment Scholarship Account) that is often discussed in the national debate over education choice. What would an ESA program look like in Wyoming? Main finding: A Wyoming version of the Arizona ESA, with universal eligibility for the K-12 student population in the state, co...

by Wyoming Liberty Group Staff With the reported change in personal income in Wyoming, from work-based to equity-based and sourced from entitlements, it is valid to ask what the implications are for consumer spending. Main finding: Consumer spending is relatively weak. Basic necessities, including insurance take up a larger share of consumer spendi...

by Wyoming Liberty Group Staff Imagine someone walking into a hotel in New York saying "the same hotel room would only cost $80 in Wyoming, so you should only charge me $80 for this $250 room". Absurd? Of course it is. The cost of doing business varies from state to state, even from county to county. Taxes vary, market wages vary, the regulatory bu...

by Wyoming Liberty Group Staff A month from now the Bureau of Economic Analysis releases 2018 consumer-spending data for the states. In two parts, this Report will give an update on the recent history of consumer spending and personal income in Wyoming, compared to other states. This the first part examines personal income. Main finding: Persistent...

Philip Baron, MBA At the Joint Revenue Committee meeting in July 2019, Wyoming lawmakers were presented draft legislation to increase the state fuel tax by 3 cents per gallon. According to the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WyDot), this tax would bring in $20 million a year. WyDot would receive 67% of this revenue, about $13.4 million, and t...

by Wyoming Liberty Group Staff Wyoming has the nation's highest Government Employment Ratio and the third-highest Government Compensation Ratio. Our state also lacks in industrial diversity. Main finding: Counties where government earnings are a significant share of employee compensation are more industrially diverse than counties with a relatively...

by Wyoming Liberty Group Staff With reference to the recent job losses in Wyoming coal mines, this Report presents a review of employment trends in the private sector since 1990. Main findings: 1) Job growth today is low by historic comparison. 2) In terms of employment, our economy is more diversified now than it was three decades ago. News storie...

By Philip Baron, MBA A draft bill presented to the Joint Revenue Committee in July of 2019, would allow voters in a city to approve a sales tax increase (up to 1%) for up to four years. Tax increases imposed for a specific project would expire if they collect the amount of funding needed for the project before the four-year time period. Right now, ...

by Wyoming Liberty Group Staff The Government Employment Ratio (GER) is one of several measurements of the size of government. Likewise, the Government Compensation Ratio (GCR) is a measurement of the cost of government related directly to the performance of the private sector. Main finding: Wyoming has the largest GER and the second highest GCR of...