In this OpEd originally published in the South Carolina Daily Gazette, Palmetto Promise CEO Wendy Damron and Investor Choice Advocates Network Founder and President, Nicolas Morgan discuss the strict regulations concerning investing in South Carolina and nationwide. Emily Kapszukiewicz has spent her career in health care — earning a master’s degree in applied economics and

We frequently hear how the U.S. is in a “debt crisis.”   The U.S. Debt Clock presents debt data in real time.  Is this level of debt really a problem?   If so, what should South Carolinians do about it?  Productive Uses of Government Debt  Though most of us would prefer a smaller federal government without any debt, debt can serve legitimate purposes when used correctly.   Borrowing allows the government to continue operating despite revenue volatility (e.g., tax collections are

South Carolina taxpayers were the winners this week in a friendly game of chicken between the Senate and the House over how deeply to cut the state’s top marginal individual income tax rate. But before we get to the details of a busy money week for the legislature, here is a short tax cut history.

What a year 2025 has been for the state of South Carolina! With a 2026 election cycle well underway (including a series of Statehouse special elections in recent days) and a busy initial year of the two-year legislative session, there has been no shortage of political activity. As we prepare for the 2026 legislative session, we would like to take a moment to reflect on the impact Palmetto Promise Institute has had on

There are very few policy issues that drastically affect families, employers, and the state economy all at the same time, but child care certainly fits in this category. South Carolina parents are struggling to find affordable child care, making it increasingly difficult to balance holding down a job and raising a family. Many parents face termination or reduced hours, as frequent child care-related absences— defined as time off required to provide necessary care or attention to a child when normal care

This column by Palmetto Promise board member Barry Wynn was originally published in FitsNews. For more than three decades, I’ve worked at the intersection of investment management, retirement planning, and sound public policy — helping families plan for their futures and advising institutions on how to safeguard the assets entrusted to them. As former Chairman

South Carolina residents hardly need an introduction to one of the most significant sources of tax revenue in the Palmetto State: property taxes. The property tax is one of the Palmetto State’s oldest forms of taxation and is a staple for state and local government revenue all across the country.  According to the Tax Foundation,

Put simply, inflation is the rising price of goods and services. However, inflation is not just about price tags; it is about how price changes ripple through the economic system, impacting consumer behavior, business decisions, and overall economic activity. When inflation makes the news, we usually hear about one of three common indicators: the Consumer

When citizens debate the dreaded subject of taxes, the conversation nearly always revolves around individual income taxes. This was a hot topic in the 2025 South Carolina General Assembly. Yet, behind the scenes, another stealthier tax is quietly shaping the state’s economy just as powerfully: the manufacturing property tax. South Carolina has historically lived on

At Palmetto Promise Institute, we are proud to advance policies that support a free market economy in South Carolina. The term “free market” is frequently used, yet often misinterpreted as a free-for-all economic melee without a governmental role. It is essential to clarify this. In a theoretical model of pure free markets (see your Econ