Archive - Jacob’s Substack

Fixing the Fatal Flaw in the Minimum Wage

It's not that it's too low, or too high. It's that it's hourly.

Jul 1 •

April 2025

"In the face of potentially catastrophic spending cuts we must... cut spending?!?!?"

Governor Ferguson's worries are best assuaged by shoring up state programs, not taking an axe to them.

Apr 18 •

Fact checking Washington's anti-tax Super Bowl ad

Adjusting for income growth, population growth, and court mandates Washington is, in fact, asking less of its citizens than it did a decade ago.

Apr 11 •

March 2025

The Doomed Boom: Education and Seattle's Stall

Washington State managed to produce a 40-year tech boom with a mediocre education ecosystem. Is the end in sight?

Mar 13 •

November 2024

Seattle's Capital Gains Tax Proposal and City Limits

Why a "hyperprogressive" tax might be a worse idea for 84 square miles of land.

Nov 20, 2024 •

Make Government Boring Again

Seattle college professor's ballot surprises exactly no one

Nov 5, 2024 •

October 2024

Washington's Ballot Initiatives 3: Repealing the Capital Gains Tax

Washington's tax structure is friendly to the wealthy. What would happen if that changes?

Oct 30, 2024 •

Tariffs of a Century Ago Were So Unpopular They Drove 42 States to Approve... The Income Tax

Higher tariffs on imports have become a central plank of the Trump campaign’s economic policy.

Oct 28, 2024 •

Washington's Ballot Iniatives 2: Repealing the Carbon Tax

If you've got to tax something... tax something bad

Oct 25, 2024 •

Is Seattle Regulating the Rental Market to Death?

Or, the Case of the 68,000 Missing Homes

Oct 24, 2024 •

Fading boom causes gloom in Washington state revenue forecast

(Adapted from my report to the University of Washington Faculty Senate)

Oct 16, 2024 •

Washington's Ballot Initiatives I: Long-Term Care Insurance

Should Washingtonians be allowed to opt out of the state's long-term care plan?

Oct 11, 2024 •

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