The Highway Trust Fund Explained
The funding structure of the Highway Trust Fund requires serious, long-term changes, but how to approach reform remains a topic of debate.
Read MoreWhat Is the Earned Income Tax Credit?
The earned income tax credit (EITC) is a measure administered through the tax code to address poverty.
Read MoreDebt vs. Deficits: What’s the Difference?
The words debt and deficit come up frequently in debates about policy decisions. The two concepts are similar, but are often confused.
Read MoreHow Do States Pay for Medicaid?
Medicaid’s role in state budgets is unique, since the program acts as both an expenditure and the largest source of federal support in state budgets.
Read MoreInvesting in Kids Promotes Healthy Children, More Productive Adults, and a Stronger Fiscal Foundation
Research shows that investing in children can produce positive fiscal outcomes for the government.
Read MoreWhat Is the SALT Cap?
The deduction of state and local tax payments from federal income taxes has been a subject of debate among economists and policymakers over the past few years — with significant implications for our budget and fiscal outlook.
Read MoreBudget Basics: Tax Expenditures
Tax expenditures can come in the form of exclusions, exemptions, deductions, and credits.
Read MoreWhy Are Americans Paying More for Healthcare?
High healthcare spending is not necessarily a bad thing, especially if it leads to better health outcomes. However, that is not the case in the United States.
Read MoreEight of the Largest Tax Breaks Explained
Tax breaks totaled over $1.8 trillion in 2023. That’s more than the government spends on Social Security, defense, or Medicare and Medicaid.
Read MoreTaxing the Rich Could Raise Trillions — But That Alone Won’t Fix Our Fiscal Crisis
A new paper from Manhattan Institute’s Brian Riedl examines ways to raise revenue from high-income Americans.
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