Contra Costa Times, March 31, 2009 by John Simerman
http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_12032567
The increase has little to do with monetary policy, said Alan Auerbach, a UC-Berkeley economics and law professor. “The state’s in a tough position. There are no good choices,” he said. Some people may hold off on big-ticket buys for a few years until the tax bump ends. Others may buy out of state or online, ignoring tax laws that require self-reporting. “It’s not just Nevada, it’s Amazon.com,” Auerbach said. “It’s going to have a negative impact.”