Pandering to Economist

Greg Mankiw writes in the NY Times about a small special interest group – economists. He give a list of eight policies that he says would appeal to the vast majority of economists.

1. Support free trade
2. Oppose farm subsidies
3. Leave oil companies and speculators alone
4. Tax the use of energy
5. Raise the retirement age
6. Invite more skilled immigrants
7. Liberalize drug policy
8. Raise funds for economic research

I support pretty much all of the above. It is of course a matter of degree. We have GST on energy and petrol excise tax to fund the roads and the ETS will be a tax on energy, so I’m not saying you want even more taxes.