Topic: Policy

Art and Culture, Education, History, Policy

Freedom of Choice in Education: the Origins of a Slogan

– September 16, 2023

“The Virginia Education Association, the state’s largest teachers’ union, linked arms with segregationist attorney John S. Battle, Jr. to attack the tuition grants.” ~Phillip Magness

Authoritarianism, Environmentalism, Policy, Science

Warm-Mongers vs. Classical Liberals

– September 14, 2023

“Classical liberalism can stand proud on the climate issue—and offers the first-best policy of do no harm.” ~ Robert Bradley

Books, Government, Policy

Needed: More People to Keep Asking Why

– September 13, 2023

“If you pay attention to public policy, you have probably come up with your own list of ‘not asked, much less answered’ questions that stick with you.” ~ Gary Galles

Books, Economic Education, Philosophy, Policy

Peter Turchin’s ‘End Times,’ A Review

– September 10, 2023

“Turchin’s model does appear to shed some light on the ‘elite-vs-deplorable’ dynamic playing out in our national drama.” ~ Thaddeus Meadows and Mike Ryall

Art and Culture, Authoritarianism, Policy, Regulation

Respectfully Disagreeing With George Will on the Drug War

– September 9, 2023

“As long as the police are charged with enforcing drug prohibitions, they simply cannot be held accountable.” ~ Donald J. Boudreaux

Environmentalism, Government, Policy

Blame, Trade-Offs, and the Maui Wildfires

– August 31, 2023

“Making big and simple promises is the easy part of politics. Telling constituencies that there may be difficult and painful trade-offs is difficult.” ~ Anthony Gill

Books, Economic History, Policy, Property Rights, Regulation

Locked Down: What Do We Really Need Collective Action For?

– August 30, 2023

“Locke’s view, reflected in our Founding documents, is that preserving our freedoms requires one type of collective action: the preservation of our rights. No more. Actions beyond that benefit some at the expense of others.” ~ Gary M. Galles

Books, Economic History, History, Policy

What Is the New Deal with the New Deal?

– August 29, 2023

“The tide of historiographical battle may finally turn and with it many old canards about the culpability of the gold standard, stock shorting, greed, and so forth in the downturn.” ~ Robert E. Wright

Government, History, Policy, War and Peace

Remembering President Harding

– August 27, 2023

“Notwithstanding the scandals, Harding’s legacy for electoral success, economic achievements, and national wealth remain unsurpassed.” ~ Will Sellers

Books, Policy, Property Rights, Regulation

Should We Abolish Zoning?

– August 25, 2023

“Many people consider zoning part of the ‘property right’ they bought in their home. They really should set up covenants if they want that security.” ~ Jason Sorens

Economic Education, Entrepreneurship, Free Markets, Policy

Further Thoughts on Industrial Policy

– August 23, 2023

“The possibility is real that the subsidized mousetrap improvers displace unsubsidized mousetrap improvers who, absent the subsidies, would have given the world an even better mousetrap or an equally improved mousetrap produced at lower cost.” ~ Donald J. Boudreaux

Books, Economic History, Policy

Adam Smith Provided a Moral Foundation for Workers’ Freedoms

– August 20, 2023

“The moral proposition is that it is good for individuals to be free to work and contract as they choose. The economic proposition is that such freedom generates spectacular wealth.” ~ David McGarry