Vincent Geloso

Disease and the Unconstrained State

If we alter the constraints and powers of political actors as a result of reasoning in an institutional vacuum, we may be giving to political actors things they wanted regardless of the crisis. In the long-run, it will come at a cost.

Spanish Flu Was Awful But We Moved On Anyway

The Spanish Flu killed at least 50 million individuals in the span of a few months and contributed to a industrial production and commercial activity drop of between 16% to 25% in less than a year. Here are three prudent lessons on how to minimize long-term costs brought by temporary behavioral changes enacted to slow the propagation of the coronavirus.

The Virtues of Fiscal Discipline

Deficits used to be temporary affairs racked up in exceptional periods as the result of shocks, and paid down with surpluses. Despite years of decent economic growth, public debts in most western countries remain at high levels relative to GDP. Consequently, capacity to respond to crisis – such as natural disasters, wars and the one we are facing now – through borrowing is considerably reduced.

Globalization Does Not Increase Pandemic Risk

During the 20th century, the volume of international exchanges went in the opposite direction: trade increased and expanded as a result of trade liberalization and technological innovations in transport and communications. Thus, it appears that in spite of globalization, the damages wrought by pandemics have fallen.

Is Bernie Right about Education in Cuba?

What explains the rising literacy rates and rising levels of educational achievements is also what explains the regime’s ability to continually repress Cuban people.

Enough of this Idea of Presidential Greatness

What constitutes a great president? Every presidential election, pundits and commentators opine on the characteristics of presidents that made them great. Starting in 1948, at the impulse of Arthur Schlesinger […]

Neoliberalism and Intellectual Turing Tests

Is neoliberalism libertarianism? Is it a form of market-oriented technocracy? Is it a form of elitist ideology favorable to markets? Is it a justification for a rent-seeking elite? It’s unclear exactly what it is.