Answers That Count - Hosted By Charles Musgrove

Economic Key Element #1 of 12 – Incentives Matter I recently interviewed Professor Joseph Calhoun, Economics Professor for Florida State University and co-author of the Third Edition of “Common Sense Economics, What Everyone Should Know About Wealth and Prosperity.” In this interview we talk about key element #1, Incentives Matter – Changes in benefits and costs will influence choices in a predictable manner.

There are similarities between the Incentives Matter concept to the Laffer Curve, an economics theory developed by Arthur Laffer. The simple description of the Laffer Curve is that reducing tax rates will increase total tax revenue … meaning Americans will work and earn more if taxes are lower than they would at a higher tax rate.

Here is a quote from Common Sense Economics, “Changes in incentives influence everyone’s choices, regardless of the mix of greedy, materialistic goals on the one hand and compassionate, altruistic goals on the other, that drive a specific decision.”