Jack Salmon
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Gibbs Scholar and Research Fellow
Jack Salmon is a Gibbs Scholar and Research Fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, where he focuses on economic and fiscal policy, with an emphasis on federal budgets, taxation, economic growth, and institutional analysis. His research and commentary have been featured in a variety of outlets, including The Hill, Business Insider, RealClearPolicy, National Review, the American Institute for Economic Research, and Reason Magazine. Salmon has provided expert analysis on fiscal and economic issues in various policy forums, including testimony before Congress on the risks of debt accumulation, deficit spending, and inflation.
Prior to rejoining Mercatus, he served as Director of Policy Research at Philanthropy Roundtable, where he provided research, commentary, and analysis on issues impacting the charitable sector and philanthropic freedom. Salmon is also a Visiting Fellow at Philanthropy Roundtable. He has previously held research roles at the Competitive Enterprise Institute and Cato Institute, supporting work on financial and monetary policy. Originally from the U.K., Salmon earned his Master of Arts in Political Economy from King’s College London in 2015.
Latest Work
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- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Spotlights Policy Spotlights
Reversing Maryland’s Outmigration
Tax, housing, and labor reforms to grow the state -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
The Truth About Today | Chicago's Morning Answer with Dan Proft
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- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
America’s expats are still waiting for tax reform | The Hill
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- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Safe-Debt Laffer Curve | The Unseen and The Unsaid
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- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
3 key areas must be addressed to stop Ohioans from fleeing state | Columbus Dispatch
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- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
You Can't Grow Your Way Out of $40 Trillion in Debt | The Unseen and The Unsaid
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- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
The Truth About Americans’ Blue State Exodus | The Federalist Radio Hour
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- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The Truth About Americans’ Blue State Exodus | Federalist Radio Hour
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- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Jack Salmon on Lars Larson National Podcast 2026-08-20 | The Lars Larson Show National Podcast
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- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Virginians are leaving. Let’s take the hint. | The News Virginian
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- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Research Papers Research Papers
The Composition of Fiscal Consolidation
Tax versus spending adjustments and their effects on debt reduction and economic growth -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Working Papers Working Papers
The Government Spending Multiplier: A Survey of Empirical Literature
What do empirical studies tell us about the effect of government spending on economic output? -
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Fiscal Sustainability: High Stakes and Low Interest
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Flattening the Debt Curve: Empirical Lessons for Fiscal Consolidation
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Higher Education and the School-Work Mismatch in an Evolving Labor Market
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
A More Comprehensive View of Unemployment
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
CBO Projections Reveal the Extent of the United States’ Mandatory Spending Problem
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
Small Differences in Rates of GDP Growth Have Huge Impacts on Living Standards
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Public Debt and Economic Growth in the United States
Channels, thresholds, and the role of monetary policy absorption -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Interstate Migration Trends in the United States, 2018–2023: Where Are Americans Moving, and Why?
Lower taxes and greater housing supply are stronger predictors of population growth than climate or cost of living -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Interstate Migration Series
Where are Americans moving, and why? -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Introduction: A Principled Approach to Tax Expenditures
A roadmap for a more efficient, fair, and growth-oriented tax code -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Simplifying the Tax Code Is a Pro-Growth Policy
Tax reform that broadens the base and removes distortions could significantly increase investment and GDP -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Impact of Public Debt on Economic Growth: What the Empirical Literature Tells Us
This is a living document that will be updated approximately twice per year, as new empirical studies are published on the relationship between public debt and economic growth -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Tilting the Playing Field: Tax Preferences for Cooperatives and Government-Owned Enterprises
Tax exemptions distort competition and fairness -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Who Really Pays? Reevaluating the Corporate Tax Burden
Contrary to government scoring models, the true corporate tax burden falls heavily on workers and consumers. -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Impact of Public Debt on Interest Rates
Rising US debt is driving interest rates higher than CBO forecasts predict -
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Spotlights Policy Spotlights
Reversing Maryland’s Outmigration
Tax, housing, and labor reforms to grow the state -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Spotlights Policy Spotlights
Reversing Ohio’s Outmigration
Tax, housing, and labor reforms to grow the state -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Spotlights Policy Spotlights
Securing Arkansas’s Migration-Driven Growth
Tax, housing, and labor reforms to sustain prosperity -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Spotlights Policy Spotlights
Prosperity amid Population Growth in Missouri
Tax, housing, and labor reforms to support a stronger economy -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Spotlights Policy Spotlights
Prosperity amid Population Growth in Indiana
Tax, housing, and labor reforms to support a stronger economy -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Spotlights Policy Spotlights
Free to Give
How state policymakers can remove barriers to charity -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Spotlights Policy Spotlights
Reversing Kansas’s Outmigration
Tax, housing, and labor reforms to grow the state -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Spotlights Policy Spotlights
Securing South Carolina’s Migration-Driven Growth
Tax, housing, and labor reforms to sustain prosperity -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Spotlights Policy Spotlights
Prosperity amid Population Growth in Kentucky
Tax, housing, and labor reforms to support a stronger economy -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Spotlights Policy Spotlights
Prosperity amid Population Growth in West Virginia
Tax, housing, and labor reforms to support a stronger economy
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
The Truth About Today | Chicago's Morning Answer with Dan Proft
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The Truth About Americans’ Blue State Exodus | Federalist Radio Hour
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
The Truth About Americans’ Blue State Exodus | The Federalist Radio Hour
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Jack Salmon on Lars Larson National Podcast 2026-08-20 | The Lars Larson Show National Podcast
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Stretched Definition of Moderate with Guest Host Matt | The Vicki McKenna Show
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Jack Salmon on U.S. Migration Trends | CSPAN2
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Millions lose SNAP benefits as One Big Beautiful Bill’s stricter requirements kick in | PBS NewsHour
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Lars Larson Northwest Podcast 2026-05-29 | The Lars Larson Show Pacific Northwest Podcast
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Utah AG Deregulation | The Rod and Greg Show
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The Rod and Greg Show Daily Rundown - Tuesday, May 26, 2026 | KNRS-FM
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
America’s expats are still waiting for tax reform | The Hill
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Safe-Debt Laffer Curve | The Unseen and The Unsaid
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
3 key areas must be addressed to stop Ohioans from fleeing state | Columbus Dispatch
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
You Can't Grow Your Way Out of $40 Trillion in Debt | The Unseen and The Unsaid
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Virginians are leaving. Let’s take the hint. | The News Virginian
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Farm Bill: Subsidies, Dependency, and a $1.4 Trillion Price Tag | The Unseen and The Unsaid
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Is the Era of Rising College Tuition Coming to an End? | The Unseen and The Unsaid
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- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Jobs Numbers are Weak, but the Labor Market Doom is Overdone | The Unseen and The Unsaid
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Pa. is losing people; here’s how to win them back | TribLive
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The real reason Americans are fleeing blue states for Florida and Texas | Fox News Channel
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Spotlights Policy Spotlights
Reversing Maryland’s Outmigration
Tax, housing, and labor reforms to grow the state -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
The Truth About Today | Chicago's Morning Answer with Dan Proft
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
America’s expats are still waiting for tax reform | The Hill
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Safe-Debt Laffer Curve | The Unseen and The Unsaid
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
3 key areas must be addressed to stop Ohioans from fleeing state | Columbus Dispatch
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
You Can't Grow Your Way Out of $40 Trillion in Debt | The Unseen and The Unsaid
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
The Truth About Americans’ Blue State Exodus | The Federalist Radio Hour
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The Truth About Americans’ Blue State Exodus | Federalist Radio Hour
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Jack Salmon on Lars Larson National Podcast 2026-08-20 | The Lars Larson Show National Podcast
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Virginians are leaving. Let’s take the hint. | The News Virginian
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Research Papers Research Papers
The Composition of Fiscal Consolidation
Tax versus spending adjustments and their effects on debt reduction and economic growth -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Working Papers Working Papers
The Government Spending Multiplier: A Survey of Empirical Literature
What do empirical studies tell us about the effect of government spending on economic output? -
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Fiscal Sustainability: High Stakes and Low Interest
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Flattening the Debt Curve: Empirical Lessons for Fiscal Consolidation
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Research Papers Research Papers
Higher Education and the School-Work Mismatch in an Evolving Labor Market
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
A More Comprehensive View of Unemployment
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
CBO Projections Reveal the Extent of the United States’ Mandatory Spending Problem
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
Small Differences in Rates of GDP Growth Have Huge Impacts on Living Standards
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Public Debt and Economic Growth in the United States
Channels, thresholds, and the role of monetary policy absorption -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Interstate Migration Trends in the United States, 2018–2023: Where Are Americans Moving, and Why?
Lower taxes and greater housing supply are stronger predictors of population growth than climate or cost of living -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Interstate Migration Series
Where are Americans moving, and why? -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Introduction: A Principled Approach to Tax Expenditures
A roadmap for a more efficient, fair, and growth-oriented tax code -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Simplifying the Tax Code Is a Pro-Growth Policy
Tax reform that broadens the base and removes distortions could significantly increase investment and GDP -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Impact of Public Debt on Economic Growth: What the Empirical Literature Tells Us
This is a living document that will be updated approximately twice per year, as new empirical studies are published on the relationship between public debt and economic growth -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Tilting the Playing Field: Tax Preferences for Cooperatives and Government-Owned Enterprises
Tax exemptions distort competition and fairness -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Who Really Pays? Reevaluating the Corporate Tax Burden
Contrary to government scoring models, the true corporate tax burden falls heavily on workers and consumers. -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Impact of Public Debt on Interest Rates
Rising US debt is driving interest rates higher than CBO forecasts predict -
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Spotlights Policy Spotlights
Reversing Maryland’s Outmigration
Tax, housing, and labor reforms to grow the state -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Spotlights Policy Spotlights
Reversing Ohio’s Outmigration
Tax, housing, and labor reforms to grow the state -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Spotlights Policy Spotlights
Securing Arkansas’s Migration-Driven Growth
Tax, housing, and labor reforms to sustain prosperity -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Spotlights Policy Spotlights
Prosperity amid Population Growth in Missouri
Tax, housing, and labor reforms to support a stronger economy -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Spotlights Policy Spotlights
Prosperity amid Population Growth in Indiana
Tax, housing, and labor reforms to support a stronger economy -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Spotlights Policy Spotlights
Free to Give
How state policymakers can remove barriers to charity -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Spotlights Policy Spotlights
Reversing Kansas’s Outmigration
Tax, housing, and labor reforms to grow the state -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Spotlights Policy Spotlights
Securing South Carolina’s Migration-Driven Growth
Tax, housing, and labor reforms to sustain prosperity -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Spotlights Policy Spotlights
Prosperity amid Population Growth in Kentucky
Tax, housing, and labor reforms to support a stronger economy -
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Policy Spotlights Policy Spotlights
Prosperity amid Population Growth in West Virginia
Tax, housing, and labor reforms to support a stronger economy
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
The Truth About Today | Chicago's Morning Answer with Dan Proft
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The Truth About Americans’ Blue State Exodus | Federalist Radio Hour
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
The Truth About Americans’ Blue State Exodus | The Federalist Radio Hour
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Jack Salmon on Lars Larson National Podcast 2026-08-20 | The Lars Larson Show National Podcast
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Stretched Definition of Moderate with Guest Host Matt | The Vicki McKenna Show
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Jack Salmon on U.S. Migration Trends | CSPAN2
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Millions lose SNAP benefits as One Big Beautiful Bill’s stricter requirements kick in | PBS NewsHour
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Lars Larson Northwest Podcast 2026-05-29 | The Lars Larson Show Pacific Northwest Podcast
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Utah AG Deregulation | The Rod and Greg Show
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
The Rod and Greg Show Daily Rundown - Tuesday, May 26, 2026 | KNRS-FM
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
America’s expats are still waiting for tax reform | The Hill
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Safe-Debt Laffer Curve | The Unseen and The Unsaid
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
3 key areas must be addressed to stop Ohioans from fleeing state | Columbus Dispatch
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
You Can't Grow Your Way Out of $40 Trillion in Debt | The Unseen and The Unsaid
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Virginians are leaving. Let’s take the hint. | The News Virginian
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Farm Bill: Subsidies, Dependency, and a $1.4 Trillion Price Tag | The Unseen and The Unsaid
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Is the Era of Rising College Tuition Coming to an End? | The Unseen and The Unsaid
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Jobs Numbers are Weak, but the Labor Market Doom is Overdone | The Unseen and The Unsaid
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Pa. is losing people; here’s how to win them back | TribLive
-
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The real reason Americans are fleeing blue states for Florida and Texas | Fox News Channel