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Tax policies to achieve 4 percent growth

Apr 10, 2012

The George W. Bush Presidential Center is sponsoring a conference today in New York City to promote an admirable, achievable goal: 4 percent annual economic growth through competition-focused tax policy.

The full name of the conference being held at the New York Historical Society is "Tax Policies for 4% Growth: Evidence from the States, American History, Markets, and Nations."

The director of the center's 4 percent project, journalist and historian Amity Shlaes, writes in today's Wall Street Journal, "Tax Policy is About Competition, Not Fairness":

At all levels—county, state, federal and international—lower and more stable tax regimes correlate with stronger growth.

The trouble is that lawmakers (especially at the federal level) insist on discussing tax reform in terms of fairness. Tax competition earns a mention from time to time, but only a mention.

Earlier, Shlaes previewed the conference in a Forbes.com column, "Tax Summit for Growth," and there's more on the 4 percent top at the Bush Center's blog.

The day's program is impressive, featuring governors -- New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is now on stage (9:10 a.m.), national political leaders, economic experts and many more.

Business Roundtable President John Engler moderates a panel discussion this afternoon, "Let's Get Real: Business Leaders." Panelists are:

  • David C. Chavern, Chief Operating Officer, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
  • Doug DeVos, President, Amway
  • E. Floyd Kvamme, Partner Emeritus, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers
  • Pamela H. Patsley, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, MoneyGram International, Inc.
  • Rex A. Sinquefield, Retired Co-founder, Dimension Fund Advisors

We're watching the streaming video here and following the conference at Twitter with the hashtag #4percent.

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