Martin Feldstein, economist who nudged Ronald Reagan to raise taxes, dies

Martin Feldstein, the former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers who successfully persuaded President Ronald Reagan to cut budget deficits by breaking his campaign promise not to raise taxes, has died. He was 79.

Feldstein died on Tuesday morning, according to his assistant, Norma McEvoy. She did not provide further details.

Nearly two years into Reagan’s first term, Feldstein became chairman of the CEA and the president’s top economic adviser at a time when the administration’s economic policies were under attack by deficit hawks.

Tax revenue was falling short of projections as inflation slowed, putting the budget in the red. Feldstein’s advice