September 02, 2019
August 16, 2019
Before economics, human freedom: Learning from Venezuela’s collapse
The Venezuelan people continue to struggle and suffer under the weight of severe socialist policies, facing economic collapse, widespread poverty, and mass starvation.
In response, socialism’s critics are quick to focus on the external features, noting how all of this could have been easily avoided with a basic respect for property rights, free exchange, free prices, and so on. Continue Reading...
August 05, 2019
WSJ profiles the Acton Institute, the antidote to ‘woke’ capitalism?
The Acton Institute reached an international audience of influencers this weekend with its mission of uniting markets with morality. The Wall Street Journal published a profile of Acton, and an extended look at the ministry of Acton co-founder Fr. Continue Reading...
July 15, 2019
Recalling the one lesson: The US-China trade war revisited
Influential thinker Henry Hazlitt argued that the “art of economics” could be distilled to a generally applicable single lesson:
looking not merely at the immediate but at the longer effects of any act or policy [and] tracing the consequences of that policy not merely for one group but for all groups. Continue Reading...
July 12, 2019
Why should Christians support free markets?
One of the abiding joys of working at a think tank like the Acton Institute is that interesting people are always asking you big questions. I was recently asked, “Why should Christians support free markets?” Continue Reading...
July 12, 2019
Education, efficiency and liberty
Alaska’s university system is currently facing $130 million in funding cuts to an annual budget of $900 million, which included $327 million in state funding last year. These potential cuts have sparked criticism from researchers at other universities, University of Alaska President James Johnsen, Alaskan state legislators, and citizens. Continue Reading...
July 10, 2019
The BBC’s critique of ‘I, Pencil’ misses the point
Leonard Read’s immortal essay “I, Pencil” has persuaded more people of the wonders of the free market than possibly any other comparable work – so many that the BBC recently posted an article attacking it. Continue Reading...
July 10, 2019
Time to deep-six the Jones Act?
In the past three years New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts have announced plans to build offshore wind farms that would generate hundreds of megawatts of power. Massachusetts and New Jersey have already awarded building contracts to energy companies and New York is in the process of reviewing bids. Continue Reading...
July 05, 2019
Is income inequality acceptable?
In the past few weeks, democratic presidential hopefuls outlined income inequality fixes anywhere from $1,000 per month basic income to free college and single payer healthcare. While many operate on the assumption that income equality results in a fair economic system, I do not. Continue Reading...
July 01, 2019
Corruption’s consequences
Walmart agreed last month to a $282 million settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice, resolving charges of bribing foreign officials. While company leadership committed themselves to “acting ethically everywhere we operate,” reports indicate that Walmart allowed third parties in China, Mexico, India, and Brazil to make payments to government officials. Continue Reading...
