Voice For Liberty
Individual liberty, limited government, economic freedom, and free markets in Wichita and Kansas.
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I am a man of fixed and unbending principles, the first of which is to be flexible at all times.
-- Sen. Everett Dirksen

Economics is haunted by more fallacies than any other study known to man. This is no accident. The inherent difficulties of the subject would be great enough in any case, but they are multiplied a thousandfold by a factor that is insignificant in, say, physics, mathematics or medicine - the special pleading of selfish interests.
-- Henry Hazlitt

The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.
-- Eric Hoffer

No matter how cynical you get, it is just impossible to keep up.
-- Lily Tomlin
Rethinking the city and the community for a post-pandemic world
How has the pandemic affected cities in general and Wichita specifically, and what are implications for the future? This is a video lecture by sociologist Chase M. Billingham.
Kansas general fund spending and receipts
The Kansas budget is volatile, with rising spending and a large deficit.
Wichita officials may have won a battle, but the Century II war isn’t over
On Century II, Wichita City Hall won the first round, but the public issue remains, writes John Todd.
Kansas spending
Kansas governmental spending from several perspectives.
Wichita economic development examined
"What may look like economic growth on the surface ends up being, upon closer scrutiny, an expensive exercise in the rearrangement of existing business activity."
Wichita jobs and employment, July 2020
For the Wichita metropolitan area in July 2020, the number of unemployed persons is up, the unemployment rate is up, and the number of people working is down, all by large amounts, when compared to the same month one year ago. The recent trend, however, is positive, and the effects of the pandemic have been less severe for Wichita than for the nation.
Kansas tax revenue, August 2020
For August 2020, total Kansas tax revenue fell by 43 percent from July, reflecting the tax deadline postponement from April to July.
Updated: Presidential data explorer
Explore the economic record of presidents through the lens of data, with new updates for August.
STAR Bonds redirect jobs, not create them
As Kansas desperately searches for ways to pull itself out of the COVID-19 depression, policymakers will undoubtedly consider economic development tools as an answer. Kansas Sales Tax Anticipation Revenue Bonds, or STAR Bonds, are some of the most notable tools at the disposal of state and local governments. However, the latest research suggests that policymakers shouldn’t rely on STAR Bonds to grow jobs.

This story presents a report from Kansas Policy Institute.
Libertarian campaign visits Wichita
In Wichita Story, Tim O’Bryhim reports on the visit of the Libertarian Party vice presidential candidate to Wichita.
Border wall procedures criticized
A government watchdog says the procedures for acquiring the southern border wall are inadequate, and the ability to maintain complete operational control is diminished.
Updated: Century II resource center
The Century II resource center has been updated with documents and news stories, including coverage of the recent court decision.
Trump-supporting QAnon seen as public security threat
QAnon, a conspiracy theory group mentioned favorably by President Donald J. Trump and embraced by other Republican leaders, represents a public security threat, according to the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point.
Updated: Economic indicators in the states
Economic indicators in the states, an interactive visualization. In the coincident index, the effects of the response to the pandemic are evident. Before the pandemic, the coincident index for Kansas was growing at about the same rate as the nation.
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China trade deal progressing slowly
We now have trade numbers for July 2020, and the U.S. trade deal with China is not meeting expectations.
Added to presidential data explorer: Primary Energy Net Imports
Explore the economic record of presidents through the lens of energy independence.
Kansas jobs, July 2020
The employment situation in Kansas continued to improve in July 2020 as the response to the pandemic continued to affect the economy.
Economic development incentive to be canceled
The City of Wichita will consider canceling an economic development incentive for a firm that no longer meets policy requirements.
Wichita property tax on commercial property: High
An ongoing study reports that property taxes on commercial and industrial property in Wichita are high. In particular, taxes on commercial property in Wichita are among the highest in the nation.
Airport traffic statistics, 2019
Airport traffic data presented in an interactive visualization, updated through 2019.
Updated: Effects of pandemic on employment in states
The effects of the response to the pandemic vary widely among the states, but federal government employment has been little affected. This is an interactive visualization.
Added to presidential data explorer: Mortgage rates
Explore the economic record of presidents through the lens of mortgage interest rates. This is an interactive visualization.
Updated: Measuring household experiences during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
An updated interactive visualization of household data on the effects of the pandemic.
Presidential data explorer
To examine the record of presidents regarding economics, I gathered data from several sources and present it in an interactive visualization. Data includes:

  • Jobs
  • Labor force
  • Unemployment
  • Dow Jones stock market index
  • Gross Domestic Product
  • Inflation

For each president, data is presented by month, with the first month of each president’s term having number one.
Kansas tax revenue, July 2020
For July 2020, total Kansas tax revenue rose by 97.7 percent from last July, reflecting the tax deadline postponement from April. Retail sales tax collections rose by 6.9 percent to $204,575,638.
Unemployment claims by state
A visualization of unemployment insurance claims by state, adjusted for population.

The number of people filing for unemployment insurance each week is a useful indicator of the state of the economy. I present this data for each state and the nation in an interactive visualization.

Because states vary widely in population (the most populous state has 68 times the population of the least populous), I’ve cast the data as claims per thousand residents of each state.
Household income in the states
A visualization of household income by state, adjusted for inflation.
Dow Jones by presidential term
An animated chart of the Dow Jones Industrial Average for each month of a presidential term.
Herman Cain, RIP
Today we learned that Herman Cain has died at the age of 74. He had been hospitalized with COVID-19, according to a statement on his website.

He was an interesting man. In 2010, as he was rising in national prominence, I interviewed him in his hotel suite in Las Vegas. He ran for president in 2012.
Wichita aerospace manufacturing concentration
Wichita leaders want to diversify the area economy. Has there been progress?
Unemployment in the world after the pandemic
The unemployment rate in the United States rose sharply as the response to the pandemic affected its economy. How have other countries fared?
COVID Survey: Small businesses fighting for survival in Kansas
A survey of Kansas businesses, conducted by the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the Kansas Policy Institute, and the Gwartney Institute of Ottawa University found several inconsistencies between what small business need and what state and local officials have done or will do.
Federal revenue and outlays
An interactive visualization of federal government revenue and spending from 1962 to the present.
A guy named ‘Bill’ decides which Kansas businesses are essential
A spreadsheet obtained in an Open Records request details a pattern of arbitrary and questionable decision-making by a guy named ‘Bill’ on whether businesses could be classified as ‘essential’ when Governor Laura Kelly shut down the state. Another investigation is underway to determine which state agency employs the faceless bureaucrat named ‘Bill’ and so far, the Kelly administration hasn’t been able to tell us. From The Sentinel.
Measuring household experiences during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
An interactive visualization of household data on the effects of the pandemic.
Century II maintenance to be considered
The Wichita city council will consider spending $250,000 on maintenance for Century II. There are questions regarding the source of funding.
Kansas GDP
In the first quarter of 2020, the Kansas economy contracted at the annual rate of 3.1 percent, compared to 2.1 percent growth in the previous quarter. While GDP fell in all states, Kansas performed relatively well, with only four states contracting less.
Effects of pandemic on Wichita metro employment
Here is the effect of the pandemic -- or rather, the effect of the response to the pandemic -- on Wichita metropolitan area employment.
Presidential jobs explorer
Explore the jobs creation record of presidents, starting with Harry S Truman. This is an interactive visualization.
Relations with North Korea
The Congressional Research Service has produced a summary and timeline of recent events pertaining to the United States and North Korea relationship.
Stephen Ware: Debate on masks, freedom
This op-ed by Kansas University Law Professor and noted libertarian Stephen Ware shows how libertarians can tolerate, if not embrace, a government mandate to wear masks to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
Tariffs, after all, are paid by Americans
Action taken in April by President Donald J. Trump confirms: The tariffs he imposed on China are paid by Americans.
Metropolitan employment and labor force
A visualization of employment, labor force, and the unemployment rate for metropolitan areas, now with data through May 2020.
Employment in the states
An interactive visualization of monthly employment in the states by major industry category.

One chart, titled “Single State Comparison,” lets you select one state. It then plots that state as one line, and all other states as another line. The nearby example shows this chart with Kansas as the selected state, with data starting in 2010 and ending this February, the last month before the response to the pandemic significantly affected jobs in the United States.
Wichita city population rises in 2019
Wichita city population rose in 2019, but is still below its recent peak. Includes an interactive visualization.
Dr. Willie E. Scott, Jr. on the Power of Unity
Dr. Willie E. Scott, Jr., Executive Director of Wichita United, speaking on "The Power of Unity." This is an audio presentation or podcast.
Quarterly Real GDP in Kansas
Examining changes in GDP and industry contribution in Kansas. An interactive visualization.
The misclassification error in the May 2020 jobs report
Due to an error, the unemployment rate for May is higher than the 13.3 percent figure widely reported.
Wichita metro population for 2019
For 2019, the estimated population for the Wichita metropolitan area is up -- and also down.
Real personal income in states and metros
When adjusted for regional differences, personal income in Wichita and Kansas is higher than otherwise, but growth is slow.
Wichita presents industrial revenue bonds
A presentation by the City of Wichita regarding IRBs is good as far as it goes, which is not far enough.
State government tax collections for 2019
Kansas state government tax collections rose to $3,443 per person in 2019, an increase of 5.0 percent from 2018.
Wichita needs transparency from its agencies
When the Wichita city council delegates spending to outside agencies such as Visit Wichita, it should insist on the same transparency requirements the city itself faces.
Wichita city council to address misunderstanding
The Wichita city council will address a misunderstanding regarding imprecise language in an economic development incentive agreement.
Before pandemic, Trump economy created jobs
There is no doubt that the United States economy has created many jobs since Donald J. Trump became president. How does the record compare with the previous administration?
Regulation reform could jump-start Kansas economy after COVID
The COVID-19 outbreak has not only posed a severe public health risk, but actions to combat it now risk a global economic collapse, writes Michael Austin.
CBO updates projections
Based on post-pandemic conditions, the projections from the Congressional Budget Office for the immediate future are grim, but look better for the future.
Should Wichita have a deputy to the mayor?
A proposal to hire a deputy or chief of staff to the Wichita mayor is a good idea which will increase transparency and accountability of elected officials.
Wichita water plant financing on agenda
The Wichita city council will consider borrowing $280 million from the federal government, and also consider issuing bonds of up to $331 million to repay the loan.

Of note, while the summary documents provided by the city cite a loan amount of $280,860,714, it is important to realize that this is “capitalized interest excluded.” In an ordinance the council will consider Tuesday, there is this language: “… the City proposes to issue and deliver to the WIFIA Credit Provider a revenue bond in the principal amount not to exceed $331,000,000 (the ‘WIFIA Bond’).” The difference between the two amounts, about $50 million, is capitalized interest.
Kansas GDP
In 2019, the Kansas economy grew at the annual rate of 0.9 percent, down from 2.1 percent the previous year, and ranked forty-fifth among the states.
Metropolitan employment and labor force
A visualization of employment, labor force, and unemployment rate for metropolitan areas, now with data through February 2020.
Small area income and poverty estimates
An interactive visualization of household income and poverty data for states and counties.
Kansas personal income
For 2019, the rate of personal income growth in Kansas was near the middle of the states.
At Naftzger Park: ‘Sunflower Exclusive’
"Sunflower Exclusive," a poem by Chinyere G. Okafor, is featured at Naftzger Park in downtown Wichita.
Intrust Bank Arena economic impact holds mistake
A report on the economic impact of the first ten years of operation of the Intrust Bank Arena in downtown Wichita incorrectly reported tax revenue.
Naftzger Park
If you want to keep up with news regarding Naftzger Park, join this Facebook group:
Kansas school employment
Kansas school employment rose for the current school year. An interactive visualization.
The Reality of Economic Development Incentives
Patrick Tuohey spoke to the Wichita Pachyderm Club February 21, 2020, on “The Reality of Economic Development Incentives: Lessons from Kansas City and Elsewhere.”
Performance levels in Wichita schools
There is some good news in the performance level reports for Wichita public schools.
Kansas school salaries
This is an interactive visualization of Kansas school salaries for superintendents, principals, and teachers, for each school district.
Missing from Wichita city documents: Sales tax
It would be simple for the City of Wichita to include additional relevant information regarding economic development incentive decisions.
KPI releases A-F Grading for Kansas schools
Kansas Policy Institute releases A-F Grading of Kansas schools for school year 2018-2019. A-F Grading places a letter grade on the existing Kansas State Department of Education definitions stemming from state assessment exams.

The A-F Grading for Kansas Schools uses state assessment data generated by the Kansas Assessment Program (KAP) under the operation of the KSDE and assigns an overall school letter grade much like a student report card.
Private investment declines
While government spending rises, private domestic investment declines.
Litigating for Liberty in Kansas
Samuel G. MacRoberts, Litigation Director and General Counsel for the Kansas Justice Institute, spoke to the Wichita Pachyderm Club on February 7, 2020 about his work “Litigating for Liberty in Kansas.”
Wichita to Ghana, again
News of a Sedgwick County Commissioner's trip to Africa has raised some controversy, and something like this has been tried before.
Wichita should post fulfilled records requests
When the City of Wichita fulfills records requests, it should make those records available to everyone.
Wichita property tax rate: Up
The City of Wichita property tax mill levy rose for 2019.
Naftzger Park event management agreement ambiguous
The profit-sharing agreement for Naftzger Park event management contains ambiguity that could lead to disputes.
Wichita public schools, by the charts
Data from the annual report for the 2018-2019 school year for USD 259, the Wichita, Kansas public school district.
Century II resource center
Updated and refreshed: A resource of information about the Century II Performing arts and Convention Center in Wichita.
Trump economy continues to grow
There is no doubt that the United States economy has grown since Donald J. Trump became president. How does the growth compare with the previous administration?
Wichita legal notices an easy start on the path to transparency
Kansas law requires publication of certain notices in newspapers, but cities like Wichita could also make them available in other ways that are easier to use.
City code on ethical conduct in Wichita
Wichita has a city code governing ethical conduct by council members, but it seems to have no teeth.
Financial state of the cities
Wichitans carry a "Taxpayer Burden" of $1,200 per taxpayer, which is not as bad as many cities.
Electoral College math
In the Electoral College, residents of different states have widely varying influence.
Wichita aerospace manufacturing concentration
Wichita leaders want to diversify the area economy. Has there been progress?
Renderings, at least believable
How believable are architectural renderings of a Ferris wheel and swimming pool in Wichita?
Wichita to consider tax forgiveness outside policy parameters
The Wichita city council will consider a tax giveaway for an economic development project that does not meet its stated policy.
Can Wichita learn from a setback?
What can Wichita learn from the news of layoffs at Spirit and Textron?
It may become more expensive in Wichita
The City of Wichita plans to create a large district where extra sales tax will be charged. The city proposes to pass the ordinance on emergency first reading.
Wichita economy grows, and a revision
The Wichita economy grew in 2018, and revised statistics show growth in 2017.
GDP by metropolitan area and component
An interactive visualization of gross domestic product by metropolitan area and industry.
Downtown Wichita population is up
New Census Bureau data shows the population growing in downtown Wichita.
Downtown Wichita jobs rise
The number of jobs in downtown Wichita rose sharply in 2017.
NAEP scores leave Kansas Association of School Boards making excuses
KASB trivialized NAEP to make the results seem both insignificant and suspect by stating that NAEP “tests a small sample of students,” implying that the scores don’t mean much and that the results can’t actually be extrapolated to the general population. Despite how KASB portrays NAEP, KSDE calls it the “gold standard” of assessments. From Kansas Policy Institute.
The Wichita baseball team's name
Is the name of the new Wichita baseball team important? Yes, as it provides insight.
Net neutrality, regulation, and the internet
Dr. Theodore Bolema spoke at the Wichita Pachyderm Club on the topics of net neutrality and regulation of the internet. Vide
Wichita consent agenda reform proposed
The Wichita city council will consider reforms to the consent agenda. In the past, the city has placed major items on the consent agenda, such as authorizing a $2 million contract with the city’s convention and visitors’ bureau.
Sedgwick County talent attraction
In an index ranking counties in talent attraction, Sedgwick County has not performed well.
City comeback bingo
Wichita has amenities that are promoted as creating an uncommonly superior quality of life here, but many are commonplace across the country.
Economic indicators in the states
For Kansas, the coincident index has been on a mostly upward trend over the past year, although it has leveled for the past few months. The leading index has been rising, although it fell sharply in September.
Kansas sees large drop in test scores
Using demographically-adjusted scores, Kansas falls in state rankings of National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Looking at change across all four tests, Kansas had the largest drop in state rankings except for New Hampshire.
State and local government employees and payroll
Looking at the number of government employees in proportion to population, Kansas has many compared to other states, and especially so in education.
Wichita, not that different
We have a lot of neat stuff in Wichita. Other cities do, too.
United States manufacturing jobs
During the first two years of the Trump administration, United States manufacturing jobs grew at a monthly rate of 15,833 in 2017 and 22,000 in 2018. For 2019, through September, the monthly rate is 4,556.
In NAEP mapping study, Kansas shines
In a new edition of a study that assesses the stringency of state school assessments, Kansas performs well. Click for more.
Wichita metro employment by industry
An interactive visualization of Wichita-area employment by industry. Click for more.
Wichita checkbook updated
Wichita spending data presented as a summary, and as a list.

Of note, the city does not make this data available on its website. Click for more.
In Wichita, here’s what tax decrement means
Wichita has a financing mechanism known as the Gilbert-Mosley tax decrement fund. I knew about tax increment financing, but I never really understood how tax decrement financing worked. I had thought that in this context, “decrement” had a sophisticated meaning that I wasn’t able to understand because I wasn’t smart enough, or I hadn’t tried hard enough, or I didn’t have the correct documents to read.

Now, Chase M. Billingham and Sean Sandefur have published detailed research that explains how the Gilbert-Mosley financing works. Click for more.
Wichita transit, by the numbers
Transit in Wichita isn’t working very well, and it is expensive. Click for more.
Wichita transit center application
Although plans have changed, an application by the City of Wichita holds interesting observations and claims. Click for more.
Kansas Freedom Index for 2019
The 2019 Freedom Index is intended to provide educational information to the public about broad economic and education issues that are important to the citizens of our State. It is the product of nonpartisan analysis, study, and research and is not intended to directly or indirectly endorse or oppose any candidate for public office. From Kansas Policy Institute. Click for more.
Updated: National transit database
An interactive visualization of data over time from the National Transit Database. Now with data through 2017. Click for more.
Airport traffic statistics, 2018
Airport traffic data presented in an interactive visualization, updated through 2018. Click for more
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Wichita and other airports
How does the Wichita airport compare to others? Click for more
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New metropolitan rankings regarding knowledge-based industries and entrepreneurship
New research provides insight into the Wichita metropolitan area economy and dynamism.

There have been some rankings showing Wichita doing well in jobs at young firms. That’s good, as young firms — which are different from small business — are vitally important to economic growth.

This study, however, shows Wichita lagging in young firm employment ratio. In these rankings, Wichita came in at position 247 of 379 metro areas. That is better than the overall ranking for Wichita, which is at number 319. Click for more.
Updated: Metropolitan populations
A visualization of the population of metropolitan statistical areas, now with annual data from 1969 through 2018. Click for more
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State government tax collections
Now data for fiscal year 2018 is available, and it shows Kansas collecting $1,172 per person in individual income taxes, an increase of $372 or 46.5 percent over 2017. Click for more.
Populations of the states
An interactive table and charts of populations in the states and regions, from 1929 through 2018. Click for more.
The finances of Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita
A truthful accounting of the finances of Intrust Bank Arena in downtown Wichita shows a large loss. Despite hosting the NCAA basketball tournament, the arena’s “net income” fell. Click for more.
KPI releases 2019 Green Book
Each year in the Green Book, Kansas Policy Institute explores the relationship between economic growth and the size of government. From Kansas Policy Institute. Click for more.
Wichita ballpark STAR bonds, 2018 issue
A bond disclosure document anticipated a development agreement for land surrounding the new Wichita ballpark. Click for more.
Wichita population falls; outmigration continues
The population of the Wichita MSA fell from 2017 to 2018, and net domestic migration continues at a high level. Click for more.
Wichita and national jobs
Overall, since 2011 — roughly the end of the Great Recession — Wichita has been gaining jobs, evidence being its trend line above zero in the nearby chart which shows the change in jobs over the same month one year ago. But the line has not always been above zero, indicating months where the Wichita metropolitan area had fewer jobs than the year before. Click for more.
In Wichita, respecting the people’s right to know
The City of Wichita says it values open and transparent government. But the city’s record in providing information and records to citizens is poor, and there hasn’t been much improvement. Click for more.
Job growth in Wichita: Great news?
A tweet from a top Wichita city official promotes great news that really isn’t so great. There is good news — Wichita is not forecast to lose jobs, as it has in the recent past. But the rate of growth seen for Wichita is not robust, and that’s a serious problem, especially when our officials think it’s good. Click for more.
Sedgwick County tax exemptions
Unlike the City of Wichita, Sedgwick County has kept track of its tax exemptions. Click for more.
The use of sales tax proceeds in Wichita
Must the City of Wichita spend its share of Sedgwick County sales tax proceeds in a specific way? Click for more.
Sedgwick County income and poverty
Census data show Sedgwick County continuing to fall behind the nation in two key measures. Click for more.
Ranked-choice voting in Kansas
A look at ranked-choice voting and how it might have worked in the Kansas Republican gubernatorial primary election in August 2018. Click for more.
Kansas highway pavement conditions
Each year the Kansas Department of Transportation surveys the condition of highway pavement and issues a report called the Network Optimization System (NOS) Survey.

Of the condition of highways, the report notes: “Since the data was first collected in 1983, the percentage of pavement surface in good condition has appreciably increased while the percentage of poor pavement has significantly decreased.”. Click for more.
Kansas state and local taxes
Among nearby states, Kansas collects a lot of taxes, on a per-resident basis.

From the first quarter of 2011 to the first quarter of 2018, Kansas and its local governmental units collected an average of $681 per quarter per resident in taxes. Of nearby states and a few others, Arkansas and Iowa had higher values, and Iowa is higher by only one percent. Click for more.