Topic: Government

How Ethical Consumption Emboldens Certification Systems and Rent Seeking Agencies

– March 18, 2023

“What is most worrisome about Fair Trade is that it normalizes producer practices according to what is approved by certifiers, and takes away producer choice in terms of business conduct.” ~ Kimberlee Josephson

Free Markets, Government, Healthcare

Pulse Checking Healthcare Choice

– March 18, 2023

“Improved transparency would help free both patients and providers from the current warped incentives and political jockeying that leave Americans holding a hefty bill over which they have little choice.” ~ David Gillette & Lauren Frazier

Capitalism, Free Markets, Government, Regulation

The Dark Magic of Promotio Competitio

– March 17, 2023

“There is no point in struggling if there is no end to be achieved. Promotio Competitio should be relegated to the corner of forbidden, dark magic. Instead, I suggest we embrace Freedom Protecto and Celebratio Successio.” ~ Robertas Bakula

Financial Markets, Government, Regulation

Bottle Rockets and Falling Skies: How SVB Crashed and Why It’s Not the End of the World

– March 17, 2023

“Their failure to take steps to hedge against imminent deflationary policy was grossly negligent, and ultimately unlikely to be repeated by bank managers whose responsibilities extend beyond a specific boutique market.” ~ Tarnell Brown

Energy, Free Markets, Government

Through the Eyes of Greed

– March 16, 2023

“Politicians don’t care whether oil companies are greedy, or altruistic, or neither. Politicians care about using oil companies as a smokescreen to hide from the voters’ wrath.” ~ Antony Davies

Fiscal Policy, Government, Taxation

The Biden Budget: Smoke, Mirrors, and Class Warfare

– March 15, 2023

“Beyond tired class warfare rhetoric and anti-competitive measures, the Biden administration is attempting to increase not only the size of the state (through more taxing and spending), but also the scope of the state, through misguided commercial and industrial policy.” ~ Nikolai G. Wenzel

Fiscal Policy, Government, Taxation

What To Do About Deficits, Debt

– March 15, 2023

“When it comes to fiscal follies, this time is different. Let’s not pass the buck. Instead, let’s make the necessary sacrifices to ensure the long-run integrity of the United States. Let’s plant the trees.” ~ Alexander William Salter

Fiscal Policy, Government, Regulation

The Unconstitutional Tax on “Unrealized Capital Gains”

– March 13, 2023

“Much like the contrived economic arguments behind the wealth tax, its legal arguments are a result of politically motivated reasoning to bring about a new tax system that the Constitution prohibits.” ~ Phillip W. Magness

Environmentalism, Government, Regulation

How Did We Get Here: The Coming Standardization for Policy Implementation of ESG

– March 12, 2023

“The ESG industry shows no signs of slowing down, and initiatives seem to be ramping up on a global scale. As such, it is worth considering how we got here, who is in charge, and what lies ahead.” ~ Kimberlee Josephson

Economic Education, Free Markets, Government

Economic Freedom Matters! More Than You Think!

– March 9, 2023

“Because the lies regarding GDP are concentrated in politically and economically unfree countries, any assessment of the importance of economic freedom to living standards will be biased favorably toward illiberal regimes, and against finding an effect of economic freedom.” ~ Vincent Geloso

Authoritarianism, Government, Science

Faucism’s New Deal Origins

– March 9, 2023

“Many Americans want to ‘drain the swamp,’ and need to find a way to do so before the swamp drains them of the remnants of their individual autonomy and bank accounts.” ~ Robert E. Wright

Government, Inflation, Monetary Policy

There’s No Such Thing as a Wage-Price Spiral

– March 8, 2023

“The recent uptick in inflation is worrying, and the Fed needs to get a handle on the situation before higher inflation expectations become entrenched. But the Fed doesn’t need to take a sledgehammer to labor markets to ease the economy’s pricing pressures.” ~ Alexander William Salter