Skip to main content
Aerial view of hillsdale campus

Economics

Supply-Side Economics and American Prosperity with Arthur Laffer

8 lessons

6h total length

Learn how Americans can restore economic freedom and prosperity.

As the economy approaches a crisis that threatens the savings and jobs of millions of Americans, the common solution by our political elites is more taxation, more regulation, and more spending.

But is that the right path to unleash economic opportunity for Americans? What evidence do we have from our past to guide our thinking about the economy today?

To answer these fundamental and urgent questions, we produced “Supply-Side Economics and American Prosperity with Art Laffer”—our first free teaching series that blends an online course with the features of a documentary.

In this series, Arthur Laffer, economic advisor to Ronald Reagan and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, explores the economic history of America over the last century to reveal the principles and policies that have promoted prosperity in our economy.

And to enhance the learning experience in this important series, Dr. Laffer is joined by Amity Shlaes, Stephen Moore, Larry Kudlow, Steve Forbes, Brian Domitrovic, and Larry P. Arnn.

Over eight episodes, you’ll discover:

  • how incentives drive economics by encouraging or discouraging behaviors and decisions;
  • the policies that form the pillars of prosperity in the five kingdoms of macroeconomics;
  • the history, meaning, and significance of the Laffer curve;
  • the lessons that can be drawn from the economic history of the United States;
  • the reasons why some states prosper, while others decline;
  • the fallacies of stimulus spending, redistribution, and the welfare trap;
  • and, a plan to bring prosperity to areas of our nation that have struggled for generations.

This new teaching series combines elements of an online course and a documentary to present these timeless economic principles that will help you discover how economic policies should be rooted in a common sense understanding of human nature.

Join Arthur Laffer in this free series to discover how we can unleash American prosperity again.

GENEROUS SPONSORSHIP PROVIDED BYthe Herbert H. and Barbara C. Dow Foundation

Lessons in this course

lesson thumbnail

25:01

lesson 1

The Five Kingdoms of Macroeconomics

Government actions in the five kingdoms of macroeconomies—taxation, spending, money, regulation, and trade—provide positive or negative incentives that influence the decisions citizens make.

lesson thumbnail

23:00

lesson 2

The Laffer Curve

The Laffer curve represents an old economic principle that explains why raising tax rates does not always result in an increase in tax revenue. Higher taxes disincentivize production and reduce the total tax base from which revenues can be drawn. The widespread acceptance of this idea—made popular through the Laffer curve—helped spark the economic boom of the 1980s.

lesson thumbnail

31:33

lesson 3

American Taxation: The Great Depression to Today

The economic history of America since 1913—the year the federal income tax was introduced—reveals the negative effect of high taxes on the economy. The Great Depression was largely caused and perpetuated by tax hikes combined with increased spending. The Kennedy, Reagan, Clinton, and Trump administrations have all proven that cutting taxes, especially on the top producers, benefits the overall economy.

lesson thumbnail

33:53

lesson 4

Income Inequality

Today’s argument that income inequality is best addressed by raising taxes is false. Eras of high taxation in America have slowed the economy, incentivized the wealthy to shelter their income, and shifted the tax burden onto lower income earners.

lesson thumbnail

27:32

lesson 5

Why States Prosper

Free trade between the states and the free movement of populations within the United States makes clear the effects of the economic policies of individual states. In every significant metric, the states with lower tax burdens outperform the states with higher tax burdens—even in the provision of services to their citizens.

lesson thumbnail

28:29

lesson 6

The Consequences of Redistribution

Government does not create resources; it simply transfers them. Thus, any benefit a stimulus bill or redistribution program brings to a recipient is offset by a tax placed on citizens to raise the necessary money.  The net effect is negative because both those who are taxed and those who receive the stimulus are disincentivized from working and producing.

lesson thumbnail

37:41

lesson 7

Trade, Debts, and Deficits

Trade allows people to exchange the goods they produce most efficiently for a variety of goods at the lowest price. Reagan’s economic policies demonstrate how trade—and the proper understanding of debts and deficits—can be used to bolster the economy.

lesson thumbnail

27:24

lesson 8

The Pillars of Prosperity

Common-sense policies in the five kingdoms of macroeconomics will unleash American prosperity again. Americans must be free to produce and secure in their earnings. To provide genuine economic growth in impoverished neighborhoods requires economic reforms that incentivize growth.

Watch the course trailer

Enroll in this free online course on Supply-Side Economics and American Prosperity today!

What Current Students Are Saying

It tells the truth about supply-side economics, the impact of taxes and how the economy really works. And it does this in a way that anyone can understand it, regardless of their educational background or expertise.

Peter from New York

Create your FREE account today!

All you need to access our courses and start learning today is your email address.