Economists Endorse Sen. David Shafer’s Constitutional Amendment to Prevent Increase in Maximum State Income Tax Rate

ATLANTA (June 10, 2014)  |  A group of 17 leading Georgia economists, including two past presidents of the Southern Economic Association, today released the following statement:

“We endorse Sen. David Shafer’s Senate Resolution 415 amending the State Constitution to prevent any increase in the maximum state income tax rate.

“Sen. Shafer’s constitutional amendment gives Georgia a competitive advantage in attracting new jobs and businesses and in persuading existing businesses to expand, as it provides a large and important measure of long-run certainty in Georgia’s business environment.

“We also endorse future tax reforms that would lower Georgia’s income tax rate in order to be more competitive with our neighboring states and reduce the tax burden paid by Georgia’s citizens.”

Dr. Paul H. Rubin, Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Economics
Emory University

Dr. Benjamin Scafidi, Professor of Economics
Georgia College & State University

Dr. Dwight R. Lee, Professor Emeritus of Economics
The University of Georgia

Dr. Jeffrey H. Dorfman, Professor of Agricultural and Applied Economics
The University of Georgia

Dr. Donald Ratajczak, Regents Professor Emeritus of Economics
Georgia State University

Dr. E. F. Stephenson, Professor of Economics
Chair of the Department of Economics
Berry College

Dr. Rand W. Ressler, Professor of Economics
Chair of the Department of Finance and Economics
Georgia Southern University

Dr. W. Ken Farr, Chair of the Department of Economics and Finance
Georgia College & State University

Dr. Michael Daniels, Professor of Economics
Columbus State University

Dr. Govind Hariharan, Professor of Economics, Finance and Quantitative Analysis
Kennesaw State University

Dr. Christine P. Ries, Professor of Economics
Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. Donald Sabbarese, Professor of Economics, Finance and Quantitative Analysis
Director of the Econometric Center
Kennesaw State University

Dr. Tyler T. Yu, Associate Dean of the School of Business
Professor of Economics and Accounting
Georgia Gwinnett College

Dr. David B. Mustard, Josiah Meigs Distinguished Professor of Economics
The University of Georgia

Dr. Bill Yang, Professor of Economics
Georgia Southern University

Dr. Christopher Clark, Associate Professor of Economics
Georgia College & State University

Dr. Brooke Conaway, Assistant Professor of Economics
Georgia College & State University

Titles and institutions are given for identification purposes only.  Dr. Rubin and Dr. Lee are past presidents of the Southern Economic Association.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 2014

CONTACT
Jennifer Yarber, Director
jennifer.yarber@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028