Topic: Government

Economic History, Free Markets, Government

Recessions and Economic Freedom

– February 19, 2023

“This global retreat in economic freedom is worrisome. It means that economic crises are going to be longer and more painful. Thus, they are more likely to result in political backlash. Defenders of economic freedom should bear this in mind when they emphasize how important that freedom is.” ~ Vincent Geloso

Free Markets, Government, Regulation

In Defense of “Junk” Fees

– February 18, 2023

“The incremental fees associated with the great plethora of goods and services at our fingertips are an essential prerequisite to satisfying consumer demand. Their abolishment, whether by prohibition or concealment via aggregation, will prove consequential.” ~ Peter C. Earle

Economic Education, Free Trade, Government, Regulation

Biden’s “Buy American” Scheme a Bad Deal for America

– February 17, 2023

“Paying more to produce goods domestically that could be acquired cheaper from elsewhere, wastes resources, kills jobs in other industries, and makes us poorer as a result.” ~ Brian Balfour

Economic History, Government, Monetary Policy

The Federal Reserve Accountability Act in Light of 333 Years of American Experiments

– February 17, 2023

“By making the Fed so much more controlled by Washington, and removing even the appearance of private-sector influence, the proposed amendment could fatally weaken the Fed’s political legitimacy.” ~ Dror Goldberg

Economic Education, Government, Media

A Tale of Two Realities

– February 16, 2023

“The media’s incentive is to tell us the portion of the truth that is entertaining. And what we have demonstrated by our behavior is that bad news entertains us.” ~ Antony Davies

Economic Education, Free Markets, Government

An Economics Pop Quiz

– February 16, 2023

“Here’s a pop quiz. Some questions are conceptual, others ask about particular facts. The correct answers are supplied at the end. (But don’t cheat by peeking beforehand at the answers!) Good luck!” ~ Donald J. Boudreaux

Economic Education, Financial Markets, Government, Inflation

What’s Up (and Down) With the Economy?

– February 15, 2023

“I would keep my eye on the LEI (and AIER’s equivalent) but pay special attention to the manufacturing variables. Outside of the LEI, I would also carefully watch real wage trends and its downstream knockoffs (credit card and other debt and defaults, and the personal savings rate).” ~ Robert E. Wright

Government, Monetary Policy, Unemployment

Joblessness and the Fed

– February 15, 2023

“Without a symmetric response to deviations from the target, the Fed’s so-called average inflation target will not produce 2 percent inflation on average. Instead, it will tend to produce inflation that exceeds 2 percent. That’s a far cry from price stability.” ~ Alexander William Salter

Education, Government, Socialism

Now the Education Department Wants To Make It Even Easier on Students Who Have Borrowed for College

– February 14, 2023

“Student borrowers will pay substantially less than before. The Department justifies this by saying that many are struggling with their loan repayments. Some are, but why should the government shield them from the consequences of bad decisions?” ~ George Leef

Education, Government, History

A Canadian Lesson About School Choice and Its Potential To Reduce Socioeconomic Disparities in the United States

– February 14, 2023

“The long-documented black/white differences in returns from schooling, which are similar to those observed between French and English speakers in Quebec pre-1940, could begin to recede.” ~ Vincent Geloso

Energy, Government, Regulation

The “New Study Finds” Approach to Overregulation

– February 13, 2023

“The distinction between correlation and causation is not important to those who want to expand governmental power. An aggressive bureaucracy needs only an affectation of justification for a regulation or ban already in the works.” ~ Jon Sanders

Economic Education, Fiscal Policy, Government

Why “Disincentive Deserts” Matter Far More Than Benefits Cliffs

– February 13, 2023

“Benefits cliffs certainly remain an important area of policy study, but we should pay more attention to creatively solving the problems of disincentive deserts, since they exist for such long and dispiriting spans of workers’ income journey.” ~ Craig J. Richardson