Arthur Laffer
|
|
Arthur Betz Laffer, Sr. (born August 14, 1940) is a supply side economist who became well known and influential during the Ronald Reagan administration when he was an iconoclastic member of Reagan's Economic Policy Advisory Board (1981-1989). He's best known for the eponymous Laffer curve, a simple model of tax revenue showing an 'optimal' tax rate between two sub-optimal ranges of taxation.
He is the author and co-author of many books and newspaper editorials, including Supply Side Economics: Financial Decision-Making for the 80s. On January 3, 2005, Laffer indited an editorial called "Destination U.S.A." concerning trade theory for The Wall Street Journal.
Founder and CEO of Laffer Associates in San Diego, he received a BA in economics from Yale University in 1963. He also graduated from Stanford University with an MBA in 1965 and a PhD in economics in 1971.
He has six children. His acolytes include Lawrence Kudlow, the popular co-host of Kudlow & Co. on CNBC. Also, Laffer's devotees include blogger Donald Luskin, co-author of the seminal "Index Options & Futures: The Complete Guide."
Unbeknownst to him, the computer game character Larry Laffer of the famous Leisure Suit Larry series of games is named after him. Arthur Laffer for years had no idea about the existence of the games until much later when Larry's creator, Al Lowe sent him a letter. Lowe planned to program a new application under the name Laffer Utilities featuring Larry and Lowe asked his permission about it. Laffer's secretary had played the games for years, but never made a connection. Laffer gave the permission and also paid a visit to the Sierra On-line studios.
External link
- Arthur Laffer Biography (http://www.barberusa.com/finance/laffer_arthur_bio.html)de:Arthur B. Laffer