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Jacob Custer

Policy Data Analyst

Jacob Custer is the Policy Data Analyst at the Commonwealth Foundation. 

Jacob graduated cum laude from the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, with a bachelor’s degree in economics and public policy and a minor in American politics. Jacob received a master’s degree in economics from George Mason University in Virginia, where he also participated in the MA Fellowship at the Mercatus Center and worked as a graduate research assistant. 

Jacob is passionate about advancing economic freedom. His work in economics explores public choice theory, the socialist calculation debate, and property rights. To connect ideas with practice, he gained experience through internships at the Leadership Institute, the Heritage Foundation, and Capitol Hill. Before joining the Commonwealth Foundation, Jacob worked in Washington, D.C., for a U.S. senator.

Outside of work, Jacob plays pickleball, looks for new board games to play, or hits the road in search of the next adventure.

State Budget

How Big, Bad is Wolf’s Budget?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 6, 2015

The first point of contention on Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget isn’t about his tax increases, or any specific policy item, but rather over the true size of his proposals.

Media

Read More: How Big, Bad is Wolf’s Budget?

Taxes & Economy

Historic Spending and Tax Hikes Will Hurt Pennsylvanians

  • March 5, 2015

Gov. Wolf’s budget proposal expands the size of government and shrinks the size of your wallet. His 2015-2016 budget calls for a net $4.5 billion tax increase, which amounts to …

Media

Read More: Historic Spending and Tax Hikes Will Hurt Pennsylvanians

Taxes & Economy

Wolf’s Crushing $4.6 Billion Tax Increase Largest in Pa History

  • March 3, 2015

For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Wolf’s Crushing $4.6 Billion Tax Increase Largest in Pa History Middle-Class Families Foot the Bill for Massive Tax-and-Spend Plan…

Press Release

Read More: Wolf’s Crushing $4.6 Billion Tax Increase Largest in Pa History

Public Union Democracy

Gov. Wolf Authorizes New Union Money-Grab

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • March 2, 2015

On Friday, Gov. Tom Wolf issued an executive order that effectively helps SEIU (Service Employees International Union) unionize home health care workers. Many of these workers are simply taking…

Media

Read More: Gov. Wolf Authorizes New Union Money-Grab

Education

Spending More, or Spending More Wisely?

  • James Paul
  • March 2, 2015

When you purchase a good or service—be it a cheeseburger, a pair of shoes, or a car wash—how do you evaluate its quality? Do you consider the outputs—whether the service…

Media

Read More: Spending More, or Spending More Wisely?

Taxes & Economy

Fair Share? How Pennsylvania Gas Taxes Compare

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 2, 2015

Pennsylvania is the only top natural gas producing state that doesn’t tax drilling. Sound familiar? It’s a favorite argument of tax proponents, but it misses the big picture. Pennsylvania taxes…

Media

Read More: Fair Share? How Pennsylvania Gas Taxes Compare