13 Ways to Strengthen America's EconomyPolicy makers have to find ways to raise living standards. Here's a wish list...The finer points of economic policy don’t get a lot of attention in the U.S. these days. With a president in the White House who seems far more interested in fighting personal battles than in making policy, and the country roiled by street violence and racial animus, there might seem little reason to think about how to improve Americans' material standard of living. But someday the smoke will clear, and leaders will once again be thinking about economics. So I thought I’d make a list of policies that I would enact if I were in office. The overall goals of these policies would be to improve productivity, to ensure gainful employment for as many people as possible, to alleviate material deprivation and to provide for those who have trouble providing for themselves. Here’s my baker's dozen [documented as goals in this StratML rendition]This list of policies is eclectic. It draws on ideas from multiple ideologies, from social democracy to free-market neoliberalism to industrialism. It contains some items that are supported by Democrats, and others that Republicans like. It leans toward support for those at the lower end of the socioeconomic ladder, but if enacted it would probably lift incomes for all classes. And many of the policies, like more jobs, less lead pollution, housing for the homeless and universal health care, would have positive social benefits in addition to their economic effects -- reducing crime, increasing dignity and creating a healthier, happier populace.As soon as possible, the U.S. should get back to economic policy. There is much work to be done.[Disclaimer: This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.]BloombergViewBV_bf71856c-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93bNoah SmithAuthorJames GreiffEditorPolicy MakersA stronger economy, less crime, more dignity, and a healthier, happier populace._bf71883c-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93bTo improve productivity, ensure gainful employment for as many people as possible, alleviate material deprivation and provide for those who have trouble providing for themselves._bf718936-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93bHealthcareImplement a government health-insurance system that pays all costs for catastrophic care and for regular health checkups._bf718a08-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b1Universal health care: The U.S. should implement a government health-insurance system that pays all costs for catastrophic care and for regular health checkups. For other care, the government would pay a share of the costs -- say, 70 percent, like in Japan -- and the rest would be covered by a lightly regulated private supplemental health-insurance system. The government's dominant market position would allow it to negotiate low prices and ensure proper incentives, defraying much of the cost of the program._bf718ad0-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93bEmploymentFoster full employment._bf718b8e-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b2Pro-employment policies: Income is important, but having a job confers many benefits beyond just the paycheck.Tax IncentivesUse corporate-tax incentives to encourage companies to hire and retain workers during recessions._bf718f80-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b2.1CorporationsWorkersThe government should use corporate-tax incentives to encourage companies to hire and retain workers during recessions.Government JobsProvide government jobs to those who cannot find them in the private sector._bf719066-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b2.2GovernmentFor those who can't find any job in the private sector, the government should provide jobs directly.InfrastructureImprove infrastructure._bf71912e-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b3Improve infrastructure: This is one of government's most essential functions. Enough should be spent to maintain road networks and improve electrical grids and water systems. But the U.S.'s peculiarly high infrastructure costs need to be brought way down. A federal effort to identify and eliminate these cost overruns is in order. Making infrastructure healthier, especially removing lead from water systems, should also be a key goal.CostsIdentify and eliminate cost overruns._bf719200-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b3.1HealthMake infrastructure healthier_bf7192e6-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b3.2Urban AreasEncourage urban density._bf7193c2-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b4Urban AreasCitiesLow-Income WorkersMany Americans now are being prevented from moving to the country's most productive cities by a thicket of zoning regulations, laborious permitting processes and outright bans on housing development. Federal and state efforts to promote as-of-right building, liberalized zoning and more construction in cities would raise national output and improve opportunity for low-income workers.BuildingPromote as-of-right building._bf719494-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b4.1ZoningPromote liberalized zoning._bf71957a-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b4.2ConstructionPromote more construction in cities._bf719656-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b4.3TaxationTax wealth._bf71973c-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b5Wealth taxation: Wealth taxes work against inequality, but they can also help improve productivity. Two existing forms of wealth tax include property taxes and estate taxes. Both should be increased. Property-tax credits for development would help ensure that the tax doesn't discourage productive construction. These taxes should be paired with a cut in the corporate income-tax rate, since taxing business is not a very efficient way of getting money.PropertyIncrease property taxes._bf71987c-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b5.1EstatesIncrease estate taxes._bf71996c-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b5.2CreditsProvide property-tax credits for development._bf719a48-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b5.3Corporate IncomeCut in the corporate income-tax rate._bf719b2e-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b5.4ImmigrationIncrease in skilled immigration._bf719c0a-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b6ImmigrantsEntrepreneursRetireesSkilled immigration: An increase in skilled immigration will do many good things for the economy -- boost innovation and entrepreneurship, increase the tax base and help pay for the retirement of older generations.Green CardsEstablish a points-based green-card system._bf719ce6-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b6.1CanadaThe U.S. should establish a points-based green-card system, modeled on Canada's, on top of the existing family-based immigration system, and use this new class of permanent residents to increase immigration from today's modest levels.Wage SubsidiesReplace the EITC with an increased wage subsidy._bf719de0-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b7Low-Income WorkersEmployersThe government now subsidizes incomes through the earned income tax credit, which has been proven to be an effective poverty-fighting system. The country should shift this program to be a wage subsidy, so that workers experience the added income as a boost to their paychecks rather than a check from the government. The amount of the subsidy should also be increased._bf719ed0-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93bAntitrustEnforce antitrust laws more vigorously._bf719fc0-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b8Stronger antitrust enforcement: There is evidence that creeping market concentration is raising consumer prices and reducing the share of income that goes to workers. Stronger review of mergers, and continuing review of past mergers, would help reverse this trend and increase competition throughout the economy.MergersReview mergers more closely._bf71a0c4-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b8.1Previous MergersMonitor past mergers._bf71a1be-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b8.2CompetitionIncrease competition._bf71a2ae-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b8.3ResearchProvide more funding for research._bf71a3bc-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b9UniversitiesNational LaboratoriesMore research funding: Research, the ultimate key to productivity, is getting more labor-intensive, which means more needs to be spent in order to keep the locomotive of technology chugging forward. The U.S. has fallen off in this regard, but it could restore leadership quickly if it wanted, thanks to its excellent system of universities and national laboratories._bf71a4ac-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93bMobilityFacilitate mobility._bf71a5ce-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b10Mobility policies: Americans move less than they used to, which is stopping them from getting better jobs and keeping them trapped in bad neighborhoods. Relocation voucher systems like the Moving to Opportunity program can help solve this problem. Funding for job retraining, continuing-education programs, and midcareer apprenticeships can also play an important role here.RelocationSupport relocation voucher systems._bf71a772-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b10.1RetrainingFund job retraining._bf71a86c-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b10.2Continuing EducationFund continuing-education programs._bf71a970-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b10.3ApprenticeshipsSupport mid-career apprenticeships._bf71aa88-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b10.4Middle-Aged WorkersChild CareSupport child care._bf71ab82-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b11ChildrenSingle-ParentsMothersFamiliesChild-care support: This would give single parents a much-needed helping hand, and make it easier for Americans to balance children and careers. It would also encourage higher fertility, which would reduce the economic burden that young people must shoulder to care for the old.FertilityEncourage higher fertility._bf71ac7c-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b11.1Young PeopleOld PeopleExportsPromote exports._bf71ad94-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b12CompaniesJapanExport promotion: Companies that enter world markets tend to become more productive, probably because they face stiffer competition. Although certain export subsidies are banned by international trade agreements, the government can still provide a variety services to help smaller, domestically focused U.S. companies break into global markets. An export-promotion agency, similar to Japan's JETRO, could find all sorts of innovative ways to turn U.S. companies' focus outward._bf71af06-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93bHomelessnessBring the national homelessness rate to near zero._bf71b01e-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b13Homeless PeopleFederal housing for the homeless: Homeless people are the most abject and destitute of Americans, so helping them should be a priority. There are fewer homeless people in the U.S. than there used to be, but the problem is more concentrated, overwhelming social services in some cities. A federal initiative could help bring the national homelessness rate to near zero. Most homeless people have mental-health problems, so assisted living would have to be a part of this initiative.Assisted LivingProvide assisted living facilities._bf71b14a-89f6-11e7-90a9-f8ac2025b93b13.1People with Mental Health Problems2017-08-25https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-08-17/13-ways-to-strengthen-america-s-economy?utm_content=buffer9e5c4&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin.com&utm_campaign=bufferOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net