Religion & Liberty Online Archives

Acton Occasional Series

December 06, 2016

Understanding tax revenue and deadweight loss

Note: This is post #12 in a weekly video series on basic microeconomics. Why do taxes exist? What are their effects? In this video by Marginal Revolution University, economist Alex Tabarrok explains how taxes affect consumer surplus and producer surplus. Continue Reading...
December 05, 2016

7 Figures: Marriage, Family, and Economics in America

The 2016 American Family Survey was designed to understand the “lived experiences of Americans in their relationships and families” and provide “context for understanding Americans’ life choices, economic experiences, attitudes about their own relationships, and evaluations of the relationships they see around them.” Continue Reading...
November 30, 2016

The truth about Cuba’s health care system

When Fidel Castro died last week many on the political left embarrassed themselves by praising the despot. A prime example is Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who was excoriated for saying that Castro was a “legendary revolutionary and orator” who made “significant improvements” to the healthcare system of his country. Continue Reading...
November 29, 2016

Who pays the tax?

Note: This is the eleventh post in a weekly video series on basic microeconomics. Who bears the burden of a tax, the buyer or the seller? Or what about the health insurance mandate in Obamacare—does the employer or the worker pay the tax? Continue Reading...
November 28, 2016

5 Facts about Fidel Castro (1926–2016)

Fidel Castro, the former dictator of Cuba, died this past weekend at the age of 90. Here are five facts you should know about the long-ruling Marxist despot. 1. Castro was baptized a Catholic at the age of 8 and attended several Jesuit-run boarding schools. Continue Reading...
November 25, 2016

5 Facts about Black Friday

Today is the unofficial first day of the holiday shopping season. Here are five facts you should know about “Black Friday.” 1. The term “Black Friday” was coined by the Philadelphia Police Department’s traffic squad in the 1950s. Continue Reading...
November 15, 2016

Understanding commodity taxes

Note: This is the tenth post in a weekly video series on basic microeconomics. In this video Tyler Cowen covers commodity taxes, including who pays the tax and lost gains from trade, also called deadweight loss. Continue Reading...
November 08, 2016

5 facts about voting and elections

Today, Americans will be electing the 44th President of the United States. To give you something to read while you stand in line at the polling places, here are five interesting facts about elections and voting: 1. Continue Reading...