If local and state politicians are truly interested in improving the lives of the poor they should take a look at the recent study by Steven Horwitz of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.
Breaking Down the Barriers: Three Ways State and Local Governments Can Improve the Lives of the Poor.
The study takes a look at the regressive effects of occupational licensure, zoning laws and regulations on small businesses and sin taxes and how they keep the poor from escaping poverty. It also takes a look at the ride-sharing platform, Uber which politicians and the taxi-cab industry are vilifying.
Occupational licenses, zoning laws and regulations are all barriers to entry that disproportionately affect the poor and help to keep them poor and are pushed all in the need to “protect the public” while in reality in limits competition and drives up prices.
Reducing the need for occupational licenses, the amount of regulations and loosing zoning laws sounds like a better alternative for moving people to the middle class and a less costly alternative to the taxpayers than the current economic development scheme which is nothing more than an income redistribution method orchestrated by the Chamber of Commerce and big business who are able to lobby to protect their interest, not the public.
Mike Lynn