Archive
|
Whose Money Is It?
Tax debates might have better outcomes if we began by acknowledging that the politicians take the money from the people who earn it. It’s not the politicians’ money. It’s ours.
|
Bicentennial of Ricardo’s “Principles” Relevant to NAFTA Debate
David Ricardo’s classic book extolling free trade turns 200 years old this year. Its rediscovery could do much to improve current trends.
|
End Government Borrowing
The ceiling is often likened to a credit-card limit, but that’s a bad analogy. The federal government doesn’t have a debt limit at all. It has a debt sky.
|
Cost-of-Living Adjustment Likely to Be Small
Retirees are likely to see a positive but very small cost-of-living adjustment in their Social Security benefits next year.
|
Everyday Prices Rise Modestly in August
AIER’s Everyday Price Index rose 0.4 percent in August, ahead of the 0.3 percent gain in the Consumer Price Index. Despite the increase in the latest month, price increases overall remain modest in the U.S. economy. Over the past 12 months, the EPI has risen a moderate 1.7 percent. The EPI measures price changes people…
|
Despite Appearances, “Price Gouging” Helps People in Distress
Do we want to feel good, or do we want people to have the goods they need?
|
A Tale of Two Responses
“The first principle of economics is that valuable resources are scarce; the first principle of politics is to ignore the first principle of economics.”
|
Storm Clouds and False Silver Linings
As incurable optimists, human beings look for silver linings in the darkest of clouds. It’s an admirable trait, but some silver linings are illusions. Spotting them requires the economic way of thinking.
|
National Flood Insurance Is a Disaster
Viewing the heartbreaking damage wrought by Hurricane Harvey, the last thing we should want is for people to be encouraged to live where hurricanes and floods are common. Yet the government has been doing just that for decades.
|
September Business Conditions Monthly
The AIER’s Leading Indicators Index increased again in August to a reading of 88 from 83 in the prior month. The Coincident Indicators Index remained at a perfect 100 for a sixth month while the Lagging Indicators Index held at 50 (see chart below). The gain in the AIER’s leading indicators shows the economy had…
|
Ball and Blockchain: Company Marrying Gold to Cryptocurrencies
A company is trying to bring the calming influence of gold to the Wild West frontier of cryptocurrencies
|
Cost-Benefit Analysis Is Poor Guide to Government Action
Many Americans think of themselves as pragmatists. Pundits often brag they are non-ideological independents. Forget theory; let’s just figure out what works.
