August 09, 2019
August 09, 2019
European Central Bank weakens financial sector and erodes cultural norms
Deutsche Bank, once one of the giants of European finance, is in deep financial trouble. Matt Egan of CNN Business helpfully summarizes the difficulties,
Germany’s biggest lender is rapidly slashing jobs, it’s losing a ton of money and the stock is trading near all-time lows. Continue Reading...
August 08, 2019
Middle-class America’s debt problem
In recent months, the question of America’s ballooning public debt has started receiving more attention. Far less interest, by contrast, has been given to the growing amount of private debt.
A recent Wall Street Journal article, however, highlighted a growing phenomenon that, I think, merits more attention. Continue Reading...
August 05, 2019
A Quaker economist’s lesson on seeking the truth together
There are several things, universally known, which one is never supposed to discuss over dinner: religion, politics, and money. I violate this generally well regarded rule on a regular basis while never impeding my digestion. Continue Reading...
August 01, 2019
America’s unfortunate debt consensus
In an age of deep partisanship and political division, there’s one thing about which America’s political class appears to agree—the public debt being incurred by the U.S. Government. This year, the United States Treasury expects to issue about $1.23 trillion in debt, down slightly from the $1.34 trillion issued in 2018. Continue Reading...
July 24, 2019
Culture and creativity: Thoughts on our environment
Between a summer heatwave in the United States and Europe and a recent speech by President Trump, the topic of climate and environmental policy and conditions has been even more prominent than usual lately. Continue Reading...
July 23, 2019
How ideologues devalue and dismiss economics
Economics is often dismissed as ideological, reductionist, and mendacious. In the United States we see these criticisms increasingly from both the political left and right. This should come as no surprise as the lessons of economics have implications for the prudential decisions that make up much of our political life. Continue Reading...
July 16, 2019
Washington’s ‘Public Option’ meets economic realities
Sarah Kliff did some fine reporting on, ‘The Lessons of Washington State’s Watered Down ‘Public Option’’ for the New York Times last month,
For those who dream of universal health care, Washington State looks like a pioneer. 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...
