Religion & Liberty Online Archives

Acton Occasional Series

How information and incentives solve economic problems

Note: This is post #18 in a weekly video series on basic microeconomics. To solve economic problems we need to solve information and incentive problems. In this video, Alex Tabarrok looks at how Nobel Prize-winner Friedrich Hayek described the price system and its approach to solving the information problem. Continue Reading...

Explainer: What you should know about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)

Earlier today, President Trump took action to formally abandon the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Here is what you should know about the agreement and why it matters. What is the Trans-Pacific Partnership? Five years in the making, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was a trade agreement between the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Vietnam, Chile, Brunei, Singapore, and New Zealand. Continue Reading...

5 facts about Inauguration Day

Tomorrow is Inauguration Day, a day of ceremonies to mark the peaceful transition of federal executive power within the United States government. Here are five facts should know about the most important date (after Election Day) on the political calendar: 1. Continue Reading...

The great economic problem

Note: This is post #17 in a weekly video series on basic microeconomics. How does the price of oil affect the price of candy bars? When the price of oil increases, it is of course more expensive to transport goods, like candy bars. Continue Reading...

5 facts about Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today Americans observe a U.S. federal holiday marking the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around the time of King’s birthday, January 15. Continue Reading...

How markets link the world

Note: This is post #16 in a weekly video series on basic microeconomics. Ten years ago this week, Apple unveiled the iPhone. It’s a product that was designed in California and produced by thousands of people all over the world. Continue Reading...