Ward: Uncertainty is smothering economic recovery

Our favorite economist, former UW-Green Bay interim chancellor David Ward, the CEO of Madison-based consulting firm NorthStar Economics, offered some very candid comments to the business page of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. “Do you know what the estate tax rate is going to be next year?” Ward says. “Do you know what the corporate income tax rate is going to be? Do we know what the personal income tax rate is going to be? Do we know any of a number of other issues? The answer is we don’t. And until we resolve that, the economy’s going nowhere.” Others quoted in the article cite political uncertainty over new mandates, regulations and taxes as creating disincentives for private-sector hiring, at the moment. Read more.