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.
Taxes & Economy
Mythology Of The Minimum Wage
CBS News article on how raising the federal minimum wage increases poverty and unemployment Topics on this page CBS NewsMinimum wage…
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Pennsylvania 41st “Best State for Business”
Pennsylvania ranks 41st among the 50 states in Forbes Magazine’s ranking of the the “Best States for Business.” While PA ranks high on “Quality of Life” (12th) it…
Media
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State Tax Trends
Americans for Tax Reform report on state tax trends over the past 25 years. They find that (1) income tax increases have been less steep more recently, (2) increase…
Media
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Loan agency chief rakes in cash
The Patriot News reports that the head of PHEAA – the state agency which issues and manages student loans – will earn a bonus of nearly $200,000 (on top…
Media
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If you’re angry now …
Check out where your city ranks on the “100 Angriest Cities,”from Men’s Health. Philadelphia ranks #27, while Pittsburgh sits (relatively happily) at #90. Number 1? Home of the…
Media
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No Means No!
Human Events Online article on the Washington State case in which teachers’ mandatory union dues are being used for political activity – and a law requiring such contributions to…
Media
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Tax Policy Under President Bush
An overview of recent tax policy (and unresolved issues) from Chris Edwards of the Cato Institute. He makes the keen observation that the reason the tax cuts have yet…
Media
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Boom time for state finances
Stateline.org article on the surge in state tax revenues. However the NCSL’s “budget experts expect state spending to surpass money coming in to state coffers this fiscal year. State…
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Automatic 401(k)s
NCPA Brief Analysis describing the 401(k) reforms contained in the recently passed federal pension bill. Among the main reforms are that employees will have to “opt out” of their…
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“Back-End Referendum”: No Taxpayer Protection
The recent enactment of Special Session Act 1 of 2006, the so-called “Pennsylvania Taxpayer Relief Act”, came as a disappointment to taxpayers throughout the Commonwealth who are fed up with…
Commentary
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The next step to socialized health care
Philadelphia Inquirer coverage of the forthcoming “Cover All Kids” program. Topics on this page The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC…
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The Fumo Legal Defense Fund
State Sen. Vince Fumo, under federal investigation for corruption, used $900,000 of taxpayer’s dollars for his legal defense (in addition to $300,000 of campaign contributions) the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Media
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Principles Worth Fighting For
Though I have watched Braveheart several dozen times, last weekend was the first time that the blood, violence, and men in kilts reminded me of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Unfortunately,…
Commentary
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Sowell on the Minimum Wage
Thomas Sowell on minimum wage laws, from Real Clear Politics: “Minimum wage laws play Russian roulette with people who need jobs and the work experience that will enable them…
Media
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Gaming board raking in fat paychecks
Even without slot machines up and running in Pennsylvania, there have already been some big winners from gambling – the Gaming Control Board. The Wilkes-Barre Citizens Voice reports that…
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Minimum wage reality check
Walter Williams in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on why he’s a “decent person” who wants to “help low-skilled workers” and yet opposes a minimum wage increase. Topics on this…
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PA leads the nation in teacher strikes again
Patriot News coverage of teacher strikes data. In 2005, 65% of all teacher strikes occured in Pennsylvania – Pennsylvania school children felt the effects of 13 strikes, compared with…
Media
Read More: PA leads the nation in teacher strikes againRegulation
Federal pay, benefits double private sector’s
New data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, summarized on GovExec.com, finds that the average pay and benefits for federal civilian workers was more than double that of…
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New Hampshire’s 365-Day Sales Tax Holiday
While some states with surplus tax revenue are offering gimmicky “sales tax holidays,” New Hampshire has chosen the all-too-infrequenty policy of keeping taxes low. From The Tax Foundation.
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Read More: New Hampshire’s 365-Day Sales Tax HolidayGovernment Accountability
The Lieberman Lesson
New York Times analysis of the new partisan dynamics: “Traditional Democratic interest groups have steadily lost ground to a more partisan, progressive movement skilled at using the Internet to…
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Cooling Off About Keeping Up
Robert Samuelson editorial in the Washington Post on how the US will not be able to continue to be as dominant in the global economy in every sector as…
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