How Do Economic Ideas Survive Policy Failures? Party Experts and the Kansas Tax Cuts

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Abstract

In 2012, Kansas passed a radical supply-side tax cut that bankrupted the state. Repealed by a Republican legislature in 2017, major components of the Kansas tax plan were nonetheless adopted by Republicans in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Drawing on this case, I argue supply-side survives policy failures thanks to the creative role of party experts. Facing a failed policy, party experts craft narratives articulating the policy is either not a failure or that the failure is due to outside forces. If party experts are successful, they may salvage the policy or salvage the motivating idea behind the policy.

Author

• Daniel R. Alvord, University of Kansas