Positive Surprise for Manufacturing
The latest Empire State Manufacturing Survey suggests the manufacturing sector may be rebounding but the outlook remains uncertain.
Robert Hughes – February 18, 2020
Dollarization in Ecuador after 20 Years
In January, Ecuador celebrated its 20th anniversary of dollarization. The Bastiat Society of Guayaquil and the Instituto Ecuatoriano de Economia Política organized a conference to discuss the pros and cons of Ecuador’s monetary regime. Internatio …
Happy 90th Birthday, Professor Israel Kirzner!
Even in an era when modern medicine and technologies are adding to people’s lifetimes, along with the gains in general human economic betterment, it still stands as a notable event when someone marks their 90th birthday. On February 13th, renowned “Aus …
The Attempt to Suffocate Huawei Is Foolish and Destined to Fail
Readers of this column are familiar with this historical truth, but it’s worth repeating in light of the ongoing conservative crack-up over Chinese communications giant Huawei. For clarity on the matter, it should be stated right away that if you’re se …
What Brilliant TikTok Reveals about Human Creativity
I used to make it a habit to try out all the latest social technology, if only to observe its function, rules, and contribution to the culture. That habit stopped last year during the “techlash:” I too found myself convinced that we’ve probably overind …
Your Pessimism Is Ridiculously Inaccurate
The incessant drumbeat of negativity about the U.S. economy and about globalization – and the blinkered focus on problems (real and only apparent) divorced from the larger context of the economy’s successes and of Americans’ stupendous prosperity – gives us a dangerously inaccurate sense of the state of the economy and of ordinary men’s and women’s relationship to it.
The Astonishing Spending Promises of the Political Class (Video)
“Nothing can enter the public treasury for the benefit of one citizen or one class,” wrote Frederic Bastiat, “unless other citizens and other classes have been forced to send it in.” This is a good way to think about the spending plans of politicians. …
How To Disguise a Budget Increase as a Cut
The bottom line is that there is nothing historic about this budget, or these cuts. When we look at it in the cold light of reality, it is just the same big spending, unbelievable assumptions, and fiscal irresponsibility that have, dismayingly, become commonplace.
Retail Spending Remains Close to Trend in January
Retail sales were solid in January suggesting continued economic expansion remains the most likely path.
Fedophilia: The Intellectual Disease and Cure
When most monetary economists talk about the virtues of this or that central bank, they’re mostly talking through their hats, because they haven’t a clue concerning what other institutions might be present, and what they might be up to if the central bank wasn’t there.
Break Up Amazon? There’s No Point
Antitrust of the sort dreamed about by left and right today dates from an era of confidence in scientific management of industrial structure through government power. The record is of unrelenting failure.
Everyday Prices Rise on Gains in Food and Communication Services
AIER’s Everyday Price Index rose 0.3 percent in January after being unchanged in December.
Search Engines are Better Than Hogwarts
We live better lives today than the aristocracy and the richest of our forefathers did in the past. But in some ways, we also live better lives than the wizards and witches of J. K. Rowlings’ wonderful world.
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