Nothing is more dry and boring than a discussion of actuaries and accounting. But this year a major change in accounting procedures will have a profound effect on South Carolina budget writers and policy makers. [ Download Complete Article ]

For three decades, South Carolina state and local government spending has grown faster than revenues. Annual government growth has also outpaced the per capita income growth. Three times state lawmakers have responded with swaps and reforms to the tax system. Despite the relief, the counties, cities and school districts have engaged in a perpetual increase …

A recent study documented the fiscal impact of six new residential subdivisions across the state of South Carolina. After years of local governments complaining about the cost of growth these findings illustrate how the positive economic effects of such developments far exceed the short term costs incurred by their creation. The case studies in Berkeley, …

Written by: Ashley Landess A liberal think-tank in Iowa made headlines when it chastised that states leaders for cutting spending and not raising taxes at the levels other states did. The author of the report is quoted as saying Iowa was clearly out of the mainstream of how states responded to the fiscal crisis. It …

As a member of the Competitiveness Council member, I sit on the task force that is looking at one of our states leading industries, tourism. Tourism is the second largest producer of jobs in our state it employs about six percent of the work force. One of our challenges is not only to attract more …

Written by: John Hill PhD. In a letter earlier this month to the states Chamber of Commerce, Governor Hodges attempted to woo its members into supporting his education lottery plan on the grounds it would allow South Carolina to join the 37 other states that have successful lotteries. The states Board of Economic Advisors has …

Written by: US Representative Mark Stanford The debate about whether or not to reform Social Security, while very slow getting started, has finally boiled down to the central question not of whether private markets will be used in fixing Social Security, but who should be in control of investment in those markets, you or the …