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David S. Mitchell

@dsmitch28.bsky.social
764 followers 1.1K following 165 posts

tax & regulatory policy @equitablegrowth. proud alum of @AspenFSP @SenSherrodBrown @GeorgetownLaw @PrincetonSPIA @TuftsUniversity. Opinions my own.

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Reposted by David S. Mitchell
Washington Center for Equitable Growth @equitablegrowth.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
The federal deficit debate often boils down to spending vs. revenue. But what if that's the wrong question? In a new report, @michaelslinden.bsky.social argues today's spending trajectory was largely anticipated decades ago, while repeated tax cuts reduced revenues and widened the budget gap. ➡️
equitablegrowth.org
The deeper argument at the heart of the federal budget debate
A federal budget that responds to current needs while investing in our future U.S. economy requires higher revenue collection.
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Reposted by David S. Mitchell
Austin Clemens @austinclemens2.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Them: You can't pay for the debt by soaking the rich. Me and @dsmitch28.bsky.social: Maybe that's true in other countries but have you seen the concentration of wealth in the US?
equitablegrowth.org
Applying a debt-to-wealth lens internationally reveals subtle differences between countries’ fiscal capacities
A debt‑to‑wealth lens shows how wealth differences and inequality shape fiscal capacity and strategies for reducing government debt.
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Reposted by David S. Mitchell
Washington Center for Equitable Growth @equitablegrowth.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
"Instead of dividing the debt by a single year’s income, divide it by the nation’s private wealth." For @thehill.com, @dsmitch28.bsky.social and @austinclemens2.bsky.social argue the national debt looks far smaller when measured against U.S. wealth instead of GDP. More: thehill.com/opinion/fina...
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
That said, ALL of these folks—whether just above or below one of these thresholds—are REALLY rich & can afford to pay more in tax. But if you want to fully understand how the precise cut-offs are calculated, Austin's report is required reading: equitablegrowth.org/research-pap... /END
equitablegrowth.org
Defining top wealth and income thresholds for U.S. tax policy design and analysis
This report aims to help policymakers make sense of the wealth and income thresholds they see in revenue scoring and other datasets.
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
And realized capital gains are wildly volatile, so top thresholds lurch around year to year. That matters, because many wealth tax proposals target tiny slices. $50M in wealth is ~0.14% of households. $250M is ~16,000 of them. 4/
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Income is even messier. Economists count things you probably don't think of as income: Employer's share of payroll taxes & value of an employee's health insurance. Some scale by household size. Simplest measure: top 0.1% in 2022 was $2.9M with capital gains, $2.3M without. 3/
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Start with wealth, where researchers mostly agree on the definition. @federalreserve.gov's Survey of Consumer Finances puts top 0.1% cutoff at $62 million per HOUSEHOLD. But tax-data-based methods split wealth between spouses & calculate per ADULT, leading to different results. 2/
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
We hear a lot about top 1% & top 0.1% but how rich is that really? Turns out defining extreme wealth is more complicated than it looks 🧵 A new video on @equitablegrowth.bsky.social & the Extreme Wealth Center's report from @austinclemens2.bsky.social helps explain: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXdP...
youtube.com
Defining extreme wealth is more complicated than it looks
YouTube video by Washington Center for Equitable Growth
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Reposted by David S. Mitchell
Austin Clemens @austinclemens2.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
ICYMI – debt-to-GDP has passed 100% and reached WW2 levels, but debt-to-wealth in the US is 20% and ~half WW2 levels. @dsmitch28.bsky.social and I argue the most cited debt statistic doesn't account for all our resources.
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
We think an important corrective to the debt-to-GDP obsession. For example, GDP doesn't include capital gains & until SCOTUS says otherwise we can still tax those (maybe even mark-to-market!?). More generally, I think how we (& bond holders!) measure - and perceive - our fiscal capacity matters.
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
That said, debt-to-wealth is an additional yardstick, not a final verdict. It has limits — wealth is volatile & there's no "safe" threshold here either. For all the caveats, charts & methodologies, see the full report by @austinclemens2.bsky.social and me: equitablegrowth.org/research-pap... /END
equitablegrowth.org
The debt-to-wealth ratio: A missing lens on the U.S. government's fiscal capacity
Why scaling the national debt by what the country owns—not just what it earns in a year—reshapes the debate over how much we owe and who could help pay it down.
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
To summarize: the U.S. is not a broke household one missed paycheck from ruin! It's the wealthiest society in human history, one that has funneled an ever-larger share of its gains to the top and then told itself it can't afford to invest in everyone else.
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Internationally, the U.S. sits mid-pack among 10 advanced economies on debt-to-wealth, though the ranking doesn't match the usual debt-to-GDP ordering. We at @equitablegrowth.bsky.social will be digging deeper into this comparison — part of a broader research agenda we hope this measure spurs. 5/
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Ironically, those low ratios are partly due to rising inequality. Hold the top 0.01%'s wealth share at its 1980 level, before inequality 🚀, and debt-to-top-wealth would be 3x higher today. Inequality drags on growth — but it also expands taxable capacity at the top. 4/
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
This measure also allows for an easy inequality overlay. The result: the "there's not enough money at the top" refrain doesn't hold up. ~130,000 households hold as much wealth as the entire federal debt. 3/
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Debt-to-GDP is stock-to-flow: decades of borrowing over one year's income. Debt-to-wealth is stock-to-stock. Since 1980, U.S. private wealth has grown from ~2.5x GDP to ~4.6x, mostly from rising asset prices. A dollar of debt weighs less now. 2/
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
U.S. debt held by the public just topped 100% of GDP, and CBO says it'll break the WWII-era record (106%) before 2030. But measure debt against total private wealth instead, and it's only ~half its 1945 peak. A thread on why the yardstick matters. 🧵
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Reposted by David S. Mitchell
Chris Bangert-Drowns @cbdecon.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
🧵 Twin decisions from the Supreme Court this week could shake the U.S. economy by eroding confidence in federal policymaking. While SCOTUS rightly blocked the firing of Fed Governor Lisa Cook (for now), its removal of protections for other agency leaders could be disastrous.
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Reposted by David S. Mitchell
Corey Husak @chusak.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
My newest proposal in Democracy Journal explains that progressives need to focus less on corporations and more on partnerships. I'm proposing a new "Shell Company Tax" democracyjournal.org/magazine/81/...
democracyjournal.org
Cracking Down on Pass-Throughs
In 2016, a consortium of journalists exposed how a global elite including associates of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the King of Saudi Arabia, drug dealers, and others hid their wealth (legally a...
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
This is why taxing extreme wealth is *pro-*growth. The revenue can then be invested in kids, R&D, and infrastructure — and you widen the funnel that produced a Musk in the first place. That's not punishing success, it's funding the next round of it. equitablegrowth.org/is-taxing-we... /END
equitablegrowth.org
Is Taxing Wealth Possible? Practical? Desirable? Yes, if we’re smart about it
The U.S. economy is suffering from high debt, high inequality, & slow growth. Taxing wealth and the rich's unrealized capital gains can help solve all 3 problems at once.
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
Building a successful (if not yet profitable!) company is great. But the system only works if, after hitting it big, rich founders pay their fair share in taxes. Otherwise, huge fortunes obstruct opportunities, distort incentives & subvert institutions. equitablegrowth.org/research-pap...
equitablegrowth.org
The promise of equitable and pro-growth tax reform
The next president and the incoming 119th Congress will have a rare opportunity in 2025 to enact true pro-growth tax reform.
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
That's because an IPO isn't a 'realization event' in tax terms. It hands Musk hundreds of billions in new wealth, but he isn't taxed on those capital gains until he sells — which he may never do. He can borrow against the stock for cash, then pass it to heirs with the tax erased.
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
Elon Musk becomes the world’s first trillionaire today (unless the stock crashes!), not a bad day at the office. But because of our broken tax system, he won’t pay a cent more in taxes as a result of the SpaceX IPO. 🧵
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Reposted by David S. Mitchell
Zorka Milin @zorkamilin.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Looking forward to speaking at this upcoming @fairtaxfoundation.bsky.social webinar on June 22 and sharing our @factcoalition.bsky.social perspective on corporate tax transparency in the US.
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
(To be clear, we should not just raise taxes on the top 400...and we should also tax the main sources of top wealth in the US, business income and unrealized capital gains. But taking Bezos up on his current offer seems like a good start! equitablegrowth.org/is-taxing-we...) /END
equitablegrowth.org
Is Taxing Wealth Possible? Practical? Desirable? Yes, if we’re smart about it
The U.S. economy is suffering from high debt, high inequality, & slow growth. Taxing wealth and the rich's unrealized capital gains can help solve all 3 problems at once.
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
And this trade would be good for the economy, despite what we often hear about keeping taxes low on “job creators.” Instead of Bezos buying another yacht, we’ll be investing that money in the human capital of the next generation, enhancing productivity & spurring growth.
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
If Bezos is serious about his offer-& we also apply it to the other 399 richest Americans-we’re talking $32 billion in additional federal revenue this yr & probably $400+ billion over 10yrs. That’s enough to pay for universal pre-K – including in Queens! budgetmodel.wharton.upenn.edu/p/2022-06-02...
budgetmodel.wharton.upenn.edu
Total Cost of Universal Pre-K, Including New Facilities | Penn Wharton Budget Model
We estimate that each new preschooler for a universal pre-K program requires about $21,000 in new construction costs for facilities expansion. Including non-construction costs, a universal pre-K progr...
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
This amounted to $24 billion/yr. Inflating that number by CPI to '25 gets to $32 b. This is conservative given wealth explosion over last decade but since we’re not even counting unrealized gains & Bezos & his ilk use tricks to keep their taxable income low, we’ll play it safe.
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Even ignoring unrealized capital gains – which is the main driver of Bezos’s wealth – he and others in the top 400 only paid, on average, 22% in federal income tax between 2013-2018. projects.propublica.org/americas-hig...
projects.propublica.org
America’s Highest Earners And Their Taxes Revealed
Secret IRS files reveal the top US income-earners and how their tax rates vary more than their incomes. Tech titans, hedge fund managers and heirs dominate the list, while the likes of Taylor Swift an...
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Jeff Bezos says doubling his taxes won't help anyone. But let's talk about what the evidence actually shows. 🧵
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
The status quo — low revenue, high inequality, uneven growth, and democratic backsliding — is not sustainable. A fiscal and political reckoning is coming. Read my full @milkeninstitute.org piece here: equitablegrowth.org/is-taxing-we... /END
equitablegrowth.org
Is Taxing Wealth Possible? Practical? Desirable? Yes, if we’re smart about it
The U.S. economy is suffering from high debt, high inequality, & slow growth. Taxing wealth and the rich's unrealized capital gains can help solve all 3 problems at once.
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
The good news: Policymakers have real options. From a wealth tax to a prepayable mark-to-market tax with deferral charge to taxing unrealized capital gains at death to tightening business tax rules — there's a menu of practical approaches. fortune.com/2026/04/28/c...
fortune.com
California is angry about billionaires: the one-time wealth tax will be on the ballot in November | Fortune
“Hospitals are closing and people will die," said union leader said Liz Perlman. "Why? So billionaires can get another tax cut that they don’t need.”
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
The core loophole: The wealthiest Americans hold vast fortunes in the form of unrealized capital gains — wealth that goes untaxed as long as assets are never sold. And thanks to stepped-up basis, much of it escapes taxation entirely at death. h/t @jarobb.bsky.social
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
The culprit? Decades of tax cuts that disproportionately benefited the wealthy — and are now the primary driver of a national debt reaching 100% of GDP. h/t @bbkogan.bsky.social This isn't a spending problem. It's a revenue problem.
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
And the tax system has failed to keep up. There's strong evidence it actually turns regressive at the very top — with the richest 400 families paying a lower effective rate than the average middle-class household. h/t @pdriessentax.bsky.social @patrioticmillionaires.org @jeisinger.bsky.social
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
The problem starts here. Since 1980, the top 1%'s share of U.S. income has surged while the bottom 50%'s has collapsed. This isn't just a moral stain — it's an economic drag that slows growth and hollows out the tax base. h/t @thomaspiketty.bsky.social @gabrielzucman.bsky.social
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
As wealth tax debates heat up — including a possible ballot measure in California — how can citizens separate fact from fiction? A thread on why taxing wealth is not only possible, but consistent with — and even necessary to restore — America's progressive tax tradition. 🧵
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
This is a reform with bipartisan roots — expert panels under both Bush and Obama recommended it. This #TaxDay, it's time to close the pass-through loophole. Full piece at @equitablegrowth.bsky.social 👇 equitablegrowth.org/the-other-tw...
equitablegrowth.org
The other two-tiered U.S. tax system: How pass-through businesses let the ultra-wealthy dodge federal taxes
Our two-tiered business tax system is inefficient, fuels inequality, and should be reformed.
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
The solution: require large, complex pass-throughs to be taxed like C corporations. → Achieves tax parity between equally-sized businesses, potentially boosting GDP by 6.8% → Raises substantial new revenue from the wealthiest → Defuses the potent (but false!) small business narrative in tax debates
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Large pass-throughs also tend to have very complex ownership structures. Dozens of partnerships are layered on top of one another — obscuring ownership, complicating IRS audits, & facilitating offshore money movement. These are not your local laundromats, beloved diners, or trusty hardware stores.
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Despite what you may have heard about pass-throughs being small, mom & pop businesses, the top 1% captures a disproportionate share of all pass-through income. The real beneficiaries: hedge funds, private equity firms, & real estate vehicles.
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Buffett owns Berkshire Hathaway — a C corporation that pays corporate tax, pushing his tax rate up. Michael Bloomberg owns Bloomberg LP — a partnership (a "pass-through") that doesnt pay corporate tax, pushing his tax rate down. Same ballpark wealth. Different tax rules & rates.
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Happy #TaxDay! While you file, know that ultra-wealthy pass-through business owners may be paying a lower effective federal rate than you — sometimes far below even Warren Buffett. There's a hidden two-tiered tax system almost no one talks about.
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
What did we think ICE was going to do with the $170 billion Congress gave them this summer? (For context, total nationwide spending on public prisons and jails is $80ish billion a year.)
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Reposted by David S. Mitchell
Brendan Duke @brendanvduke.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
Unsurprisingly, the RSC framework continues where last summer’s megabill left off on cutting taxes for the rich. The most ludicrous of these “affordability” tax cuts is ELIMINATING the estate tax—a tax only affecting heirs to fortunes worth over $30 MILLION DOLLARS per couple.
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
Trump defunding the tax police. Predictable, but still sad. This group within IRS was poised to generate astronomical returns on investment for the country. equitablegrowth.org/research-pap...
equitablegrowth.org
Tax avoidance among large, complex partnerships in the United States
The rise of large, complex partnerships in the real estate and finance industries has meant an explosion in tax avoidance strategies.
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
Was thrilled to join Jeff Hoopes & Scott Dyreng late last year on Tax Chats podcast to discuss the qualified small business stock exclusion. I am not a fan (of QSBS)! The podcast I like very much. taxchats.buzzsprout.com/1878989/epis... cc: @taxnotes.com coauthor @kylepomerleau.bsky.social
taxchats.buzzsprout.com
A Chat about the Small Business Stock Exclusion with David Mitchell - Tax Chats
Jeff and Scott chat with David Mitchel, a Senior Fellow at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, about the small business stock exclusion, recent changes to it, and an article that David wrote w...
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
Critics say distributional weighting in benefit-cost analysis is impractical But Dan Acland @goldmanschool.bsky.social proves otherwise—showing how weighting can overcome bias against low income & bridge divide b/w equity & efficiency equitablegrowth.org/research-pap... @equitablegrowth.bsky.social
equitablegrowth.org
Distributional weighting in benefit-cost analysis is practical and effective at assessing government rulemaking without bias against low-income individuals
Distributional weighting is feasible for many federal agencies and nonprofit organizations and is a tool for overcoming bias against lower-income individuals.
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David S. Mitchell @dsmitch28.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
Overlooked tax justice win in Seattle! And possible model for federal reform: Give a break to the 90% of (actually small!) businesses (including independent contractors who file as businesses) that make less than $2 million in gross receipts each year, while raising rates on the larger firms.
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Reposted by David S. Mitchell
The Vote Yes on Amendment 87 Podcast @getmoresmarter.com · 05/11/2025
Colorado is doubling down on our super popular program to tax the rich and pay for free school meals for every single public school kid. Universal programs have herd immunity. Tax the rich and use the money to give everyone else something popular.
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