Topic: Free Markets

The State Isn’t Going Crazy; It’s Going State

– June 15, 2020

“If you want to use the state to accomplish your goals, you cannot “fall out only with the abuses.” You have to recognize that it’s the nature of the state, the thing itself, to use violence against its own citizens.” ~ Michael Munger

Crisis, Free Markets

Individualism Is the Answer

– June 13, 2020

“The slogans and protests and violence all have the effect of pulling us to identify ourselves primarily by our membership in a particular group, not to identify each of us by our own unique, individual identity.” ~ Raymond C. Niles

Art and Culture, Free Markets

The Market Loves You–And Your Little Dog, Too

– June 13, 2020

“It seems pretty clear from our experience getting a dog that the market doesn’t just love us–it loves our dog, too.” ~ Art Carden

Art and Culture, Crisis, Free Markets

The Day First-World Problems Became Real

– June 12, 2020

“We’ve learned that government can and will destroy our prosperity and rights under the smallest pretext. We can no longer take our freedom and opportunities for granted. We must work unrelentingly to get back what we had and make sure we lockdown our governments so that nothing like this will ever happen again.” ~ Jeffrey Tucker

Capitalism, Economic Education, Free Markets

Should We Be Worried about Big Tech?

– June 8, 2020

“AIER itself has faced throttling by Google, YouTube, and perhaps Twitter, and videos we’ve needed for science-based postings have been deleted. We steadily worked to build our own outlets, preparing for the possibility of full censorship.” ~ Donovan Choy

Crisis, Economic Education, Free Markets

Protest Also Against Police Unions and Qualified Immunity

– June 8, 2020

Surprising myself, I write here about the murder of George Floyd. My surprise springs from my long-held belief that I, a professional economist who now specializes in studying trade and trade policy, likely have nothing useful to add to public di …

Crisis, Economic History, Free Markets

An Open Letter to the Charleston Protestors

– June 6, 2020

“Your cause is just and we hope we can work together in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead.” ~ Robert E. Wright

Capitalism, Economic Education, Free Markets

Will Social Security Go Bankrupt?

– June 6, 2020

“Where are we now? Is Social Security going bankrupt? Not literally, since bankruptcy law does not apply to government agencies or programs. But it is unquestionably true that Social Security is headed for a fiscal calamity.” ~ Warren Gibson

Free Banking, Free Markets, International

With Argentina in Default, Economists Call for Good Faith Negotiations

– June 5, 2020

“Argentina’s economic troubles are self-imposed. They are not the fault of its creditors, who just want to be repaid as promised. Any good-faith solution to Argentina’s problems must start by recognizing the real problem: large fiscal deficits.” ~ Nicholas Cachanosky

Crisis, Free Markets

The Devastation Wrought on Small Business

– June 5, 2020

“The brutalism of the initial coronavirus lockdown orders, as well as the soft extension of the quarantine disguised as “Phased Reopenings,” have put SBO’s in an inhumane position. It’s neutered their ability to attract not only patrons, but employees.” ~ Taleed Brown

Economic Theory, Free Markets

The Simple Logic of Free Markets and Retaliation

– June 2, 2020

“If the U.S. retaliates against Chinese industrial policy with American industrial policy, both countries end up in the box in the lower left-hand corner – for each, the worst possible outcome.” ~ Donald Boudreaux

Crisis, Economic Education, Free Markets

Resistance Isn’t Futile, It is Necessary

– May 26, 2020

“Resistance is a necessary part of democratic self-governance, and it becomes even more so at a time when all the calls are for increased centralization and the voices of the technocratic elite grow louder and stronger in insisting that such resistance is futile.” ~ Peter Boettke