Latest Posts

May 31, 2017

The DeVos budget: Toward a new paradigm of public education

“If school choice effectively functions as a standing critique of public education as well as being a potential solution to problems evident in the current system,” asks Hunter Baker in this week’s Acton Commentary, “how can public school advocates ever approve of an appointee like Betsy DeVos?” Continue Reading...
May 31, 2017

The Importance of Incompetence

  Today at Public Discourse, I argue that in addition to idealism and self-interest, incompetence needs to be recognized as a more important factor in politics: [U]nless we add incompetence as a category of analysis, we will tend to view every victory for our own team as a triumph of justice or freedom or equality (idealism), and every failure the result of deep and convoluted corruption (self-interest). Continue Reading...
May 31, 2017

Audio: Samuel Gregg on the universal basic income

Last week, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg endorsed the idea of a universal basic income during his commencement address at Harvard University. Samuel Gregg, Acton Institute Director of Research, joined host Drew Mariani on Relevant Radio yesterday to discuss the arguments for and against the idea, and whether it would even work as advertised. Continue Reading...
May 31, 2017

Video: Lawrence Reed on real heroes

On May 18th, the spring 2017 Acton Lecture Series wrapped up with an address from Lawrence Reed, president of the Foundation for Economic Education. Reed’s talk was based on his recently released book, Real Heroes: Inspiring True Stories of Courage, Character, and Conviction. Continue Reading...
May 30, 2017

A rift with ‘Europe,’ or just the EU?

After last weekend’s G-7 and NATO summits, leading figures would have the world believe that transatlantic relations are rougher than ever, literally as well as figuratively. The media have highlighted such ephemera as President Trump’s allegedly pushing the prime minister of Montenegro and his white-knuckle handshake with French President Emmanuel Macron. Continue Reading...
May 30, 2017

Wim Decock named the 2017 Novak Award winner

In recognition of Professor Wim Decock’s outstanding research into the fields of theology, religion and economic history, the Acton Institute will be awarding him the 2017 Novak Award. Professor Wim Decock teaches legal history at the Universities of Leuven and Liège (Belgium). Continue Reading...