The income tax rate cut in Bulgaria caused its economy to grow more rapidly, and hence there was a surge in the VAT (value-added tax) and other consumption tax revenues, as well as a reduction in the underground economy. This year, the Bulgarian economy will grow about 4 times faster than the average of the European Union (of which Bulgaria is a member). Given the success of the flat tax, many who initially opposed it now claim to have supported it all along. -- Bulgaria privatized its banks, did not create semi-socialist mortgage banks like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, has required banks to keep adequate reserves (which now average 13 percent, about double the U.S. average), and now is in a much better position to weather the international financial crisis. -- More in Lessons from abroad by Richard Rahn.

The experience of hiding from the well-armed, murderous border guards was enough to encourage in me a life-long interest in the study of the difference between free and oppressed countries, between those that have been seriously influenced by individualism and classical liberalism and those that have followed the path of collectivism and the centrally-planned economy. And this, in turn, has led to my writing on the topic and to being invited to conferences, seminars and such to engage in debates and make presentations in economics, including in some of these countries (herunder Bulgarien, Polen og Armenien).

- Det skriver Tibor Machan, der er professor of business ethics and writer on general and political philosophy i Shadows of Stalin. Overskriften (Stalins skygger) henviser i øvrigt til hans venstreorienterede vestlige universitetskolleger.

Tibor Machan har også en blog. Adressen er: http://tiborrmachan.blogspot.com .