Homines libenter quod volunt credunt
Posted in Regulation on Aug 6th, 2018
One of our fine students, Dan DiLoreto shares his insights on how local and state regulations stifle commerce and ultimately hurt not just consumers but workers too. Here is a bit: The alcohol industry ultimately operates as a case study in how protectionist policies at both the national and the state level hurt growth and […]
Posted in Property Rights on Dec 10th, 2017
I would prefer to be the only propertyless person in a propertied world rather than the only propertied person in a propertyless world.
Posted in Entrepreneurs, Environment, ethical foundations, incentives, Institutions, Knowledge, Property Rights on Nov 19th, 2017
Before I proceed with this post, let’s get this out of the way. Here is a really cute elephant picture: And let me get the following out of the way: even though I understand the economics and arguments about why we may want to allow and perhaps even encourage hunting, I don’t like it at […]
Posted in Public Choice, Regulation on Aug 3rd, 2017
I am of the opinion that there can never be enough reflective history done on some of the ideas celebrated in our grade school (and college) textbooks. In today’s edition, Robert Bradley refers us to the Sherman Antitrust Act. You know the origin story – big business was destroying America, widening the gap between the […]
Posted in Environment, Politics, Tribalism on Jul 27th, 2017
Steak demand seems to be positively correlated with how red your politics are (HT: Jason Lusk and his Food Demands Survey).
Posted in Environment, Price System on May 11th, 2017
Do you know of a study that has examined both (the difference) between the market value of the global assets at risk over the next 100 years from rising sea levels and increasing storm intensity versus the replacement value of the global assets at risk over the next 100 years from rising sea levels and increasing storm intensity? Do […]
Posted in Price System on Feb 14th, 2017
Among the peeviest of my pet peeves is watching car commercials. Thankfully I don’t have to watch too many as I have largely substituted away from almost all forms of advertising. But think about all of these local car commercials that advertise amazing lease deals: “Just $199 for a Ford F-150 Extended Cab, for 36 […]
Posted in Economic Illiteracy, Environment, Price System on Feb 10th, 2017
If we truly wanted to reduce emissions from automobiles, and to save energy at the same time, we should hope to see a major swap. What would that be? Well, we would want to see all of the Toyota Priuses adorned with the following bumper sticker: Instead of the more typical ones you would find […]
Posted in Disingenuous, Education, If I Really Hated the Poor ..., Price Controls, Special Privilege, Voluntary Society, You Can't Have it Both Ways on Feb 8th, 2017
Quite literally almost every single person involved in college athletics/kidney donations gets paid except the very people who are generating the lion’s share of value in the first place. Tell me an argument in favor of banning kidney sales and then insert “college athlete” and see how that sounds. Of course, neither the athlete nor […]
Posted in Disingenuous, Economic Illiteracy, Economics Problems, Price Controls on Jan 14th, 2017
This sort of article is either why I started blogging in the first place, or am on the verge of quitting. It’s extraordinarily disingenuous and frustrating. Here is one example: With unions only a distant memory for many people, federal minimum-wage legislation has become the best hope for propping up wages for low-income workers. And […]
