Dr. Arthur Laffer, keynote speaker at CIRT’s 2019 spring conference along with Stephen Moore, received the highest civilian honor granted in the United States; at a presentation ceremony in the White House with President Trump.

With the now-famous “Laffer Curve,” the Father of Supply-Side Economics illustrated how when tax rates creep too high, people stop spending and investing—leading to less growth and, paradoxically, lower tax revenues. On the other hand, at a certain point on the curve, lower tax rates help spur investment, economic growth, and even government tax receipts. In 1980, Dr. Laffer’s ideas would take center stage as he helped shape President Ronald Reagan’s low-tax, pro-growth working-class agenda. Since then, more than 30 countries have adopted similar tax cuts and reforms. As a result, Dr. Laffer’s policies have helped lift nearly a billion people out of poverty.

Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian