(BIG) Solutions (mini) Summit(s) Tax Reform Recap

By Daniel J. Erspamer

04/03/2021

Louisiana’s tax code is a serious hindrance to job growth in our state. During the Pelican Institute’s recent “(BIG) Solutions (mini) Summit(s),” our expert keynote speakers and panelists offered several proven solutions to simplify Louisiana’s burdensome tax code. If you missed the Summit(s), take a look at the videos below to learn how we can...

TAGS: Budget, jobs and opportunity, Louisiana, Louisiana Legislature, tax reform, Taxes

N.C. tax reform: A model for Louisiana

By Editor

02/23/2021

by Brian Balfour, senior vice president of research, John Locke Foundation If Louisiana wants to look for inspiration for tax reform, they could do no better than North Carolina. Aggressive, yet sensible, tax cuts paired with fiscal restraint is what made North Carolina “The national model for conservative tax reform,” according to Patrick Gleason, vice...

TAGS: Americans for Tax Reform, jobs and opportunity, North Carolina, Tax Foundation, tax reform

Reading Between the Lines on Latest Jobs Report

02/01/2021

by Eric Peterson, director of the Pelican Center for Technology and Innovation Policy At first glance, the December State Employment and Unemployment report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics appeared positive for Louisiana. However, a closer look at the numbers reveals there is still a long way to go in the state’s economic recovery. The...

TAGS: Bureau Of Labor Statistics, COVID-19, Department of Labor, Get Louisiana Working, jobs and opportunity, occupational licensing, regulatory reform, tax reform

Last Jobs Report of the Year A Mixed Bag

12/29/2020

by Eric Peterson, Director of Policy During the holiday season, Louisianans have more on their mind than the latest state economic reports. Yet as we enter the New Year, it’s important to understand where our state’s economy stands. Two reports, one from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the other from the Bureau of...

TAGS: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau Of Labor Statistics, COVID-19, Economic Analysis, Economy, Gross Domestic Product, jobs and opportunity, lawsuit abuse, legal reform, occupational licensing, regulatory reform, tax reform

Despite hiccups, Louisiana economy slowly moving forward

12/08/2020

by Eric Peterson, Director of Policy As 2020 winds down, I can’t help but reflect on the difficulties we’ve all experienced, both on the health and economic fronts, throughout this year. Fortunately, as a vaccine appears within reach, so too is a return to a strong economy. The latest jobs release from the Bureau of...

TAGS: Bureau Of Labor Statistics, COVID-19, Mardi Gras, tax reform, Unemployment, Unemployment Insurance, Unemployment Rate

Latest Jobs Report Has Bad News for Louisiana

By Daniel J. Erspamer

10/24/2020

This hasn’t been a year of positive news. Over the last few months, however, there have been some bright spots for Louisiana and the nation’s economies, as they have been steadily moving in the right direction. But, the latest jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics has some sobering news for those who expected...

TAGS: Bureau Of Labor Statistics, COVID-19, Economy, jobs and opportunity, legal reform, tax reform

Could Expanding Unemployment Insurance Hurt Louisiana’s Recovery?

By Daniel J. Erspamer

08/24/2020

Last week saw the release of some of best economic news for the state of Louisiana in a long time. According to the Department of Labor’s data for the week ending August 8, the number of Louisianans on unemployment insurance decreased by more than 53,000. This comes on the heels of a 27,000-person decrease during...

TAGS: Bureau Of Labor Statistics, COVID-19, Department of Labor, Economic Analysis, Get Louisiana Working, jobs and opportunity, regulatory reform, tax reform

Louisiana Economy Appears Stuck in Neutral

06/19/2020

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently reported that America gained 2.5 million jobs in the month of May, leaving many in Louisiana wondering how that would translate to the state’s economy. This morning’s BLS report showed Louisiana gaining almost 33,000 jobs in May, leading to a decline in the unemployment rate of 1.8 percent. The state’s...

TAGS: Department of Labor, jobs and opportunity, legal reform, tax reform, Unemployment, Unemployment Insurance, Unemployment Rate

Pelican Unveils Policy Solutions to Get Louisiana Working in the Aftermath of COVID-19

04/30/2020

Today, the Pelican Institute released its Get Louisiana Working Policy Solutions. This plan outlines reforms to key public policy areas to encourage the return of jobs and opportunity and to strengthen the state’s economy following the destruction resulting from COVID-19 and measures taken to address it. The Pelican Institute is also calling on state leaders...

TAGS: Budget, COVID-19, Criminal Justice Reform, Get Louisiana Working, infrastructure, jobs and opportunity, lawsuit abuse, legal reform, occupational licensing, re-entry ready, regulatory reform, tax reform, transportation

Louisiana’s 2019 GDP Ranked Among The Worst in Nation

04/07/2020

As economic news continues to focus on the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ (BEA) recently released report further underscored Louisiana’s pre-coronavirus economic struggles. In the final quarter of 2019, the BEA report on state Gross Domestic Products (GDP) showed the Louisiana economy grew an anemic 1.1 percent, ranking 43rd in...

TAGS: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Jobs, jobs and opportunity, Labor, legal reform, occupational licensing, tax reform

Antitrust & Enforcement: Letting Markets Work without Empowering Government

In their report “Antitrust & Enforcement: Letting Markets Work without Empowering Government,” Ted Bolema, Ph.D., J.D., Antitrust and Competition Fellow at the Innovators Network Foundation, and Vance Ginn, Ph.D., Chief Economist at the Pelican Institute, write that while the current frustrations with the size of large tech companies and censorship practices may be warranted, giving...

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