Biography
John W. Diamond, Ph.D., is the Edward A. and Hermena Hancock Kelly Fellow in Public Finance and director of the Center for Public Finance at the Baker Institute, an adjunct professor of economics at Rice University and CEO of Tax Policy Advisers, LLC. His research interests are federal tax and expenditure policy, state and local public finance, and the construction and simulation of computable general equilibrium models. His current research focuses on the economic effects of corporate tax reform, the economic and distributional effects of fundamental tax reform, taxation and housing values, public sector pensions, and various other tax and expenditure policy issues.
Diamond is co-editor of "Pathways to Fiscal Reform in the United States" (The MIT Press, 2015) and “Fundamental Tax Reform: Issues, Choices and Implications” (The MIT Press, 2008). He has testified before the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, the U.S. House Budget Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, the Joint Economic Committee and other federal and state committees on issues related to tax policy and the U.S. economy. Diamond served as forum editor for the National Tax Journal (2009-2017) and on the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation, U.S. Congress (2000-2004). He has also served as a consultant for the World Bank on the efficacy of structural adjustment programs.
He received his Ph.D. in economics from Rice University in 2000.
Contact him at jdiamond@rice.edu or (713) 348-2199.
Recent Publications
Gov. Abbott Signs Property Tax Relief Package. The Proposal Still Needs to be Passed by Voters in Nov.
Gov. Greg Abbott recently signed a property tax relief package for Texas property owners, but fellow John Diamond explains how although "everybody gets some benefit," the bill will ultimately underserve renters.
Governor Abbott Calls for Property Tax Compromise, but Will House and Senate Agree?
Gov. Greg Abbott calls for House & Senate to finalize property tax relief plans, but both sides are “dug in” to their own positions, fellow John Diamond says. "As far as a resolution, it’s hard to know where they’re going to strike common ground right now."
Obama Agreed to Spending Cuts to End 2011 Debt Ceiling Crisis. Here’s What Happened Next.
As the U.S. approaches its debt limit, policymakers are exploring ways to address the situation. “It’s reasonable to expect that at the end of the day, we would end up with the same pressures to increase spending,” fellow John Diamond said.
External Publications
- "Carbon Tax Revenues Can Be Used to Promote Economic Growth and Help Low-income People [Opinion]," Houston Chronicle, February 28, 2020.
- "Carbon Taxes Equity and Efficiency Trade-offs," Alliance for Market Solutions, February 27, 2020.
- "Op-ed: School of Choice Will do More for Texas Education Than Spending More Money," Houston Business Journal, February 15, 2015.
- "Promoting Growth, Maintaining Progressivity, and Dealing with the Fiscal Crisis," Public Finance Review, August 21, 2013.
- "Obama Misses the Mark on Tax Reform," Houston Chronicle, July 27, 2012.
- "Pension Panel Lacks Credibility," Houston Chronicle, August 26, 2011.
- "A Plan to Move Past Debt Status Quo," Houston Chronicle, July 18, 2011.
- "Let's Redesign the U.S. Tax Code," Houston Chronicle, December 19, 2010.
- "Next Mayor Must Fix Pension Problems," Houston Chronicle, October 10, 2009.
- "Clunkers Program Ignores Basic Economic Principles," Houston Chronicle, August 21, 2009.
- "Should Texas Adopt a School Choice Program?," Texas Public Policy Foundation, March 16, 2007.
Presentations
- "Video Briefing Transcript: Public Policy for the Public - Science and Technology," December 6, 2007.