Economic Freedom

Peter C. Earle

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11/24/25

The Gold Standard, Explained

This explainer will outline what the gold standard was, how it operated, the benefits and criticisms surrounding it, and how its rise and eventual collapse shaped the global monetary system.
Samuel Gregg

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11/12/25

Look West, America

The American Institute for Economic Research educates people on the value of personal freedom, free enterprise, property rights, limited government, and sound money. AIER’s ongoing scientific research demonstrates the importance of these principles in advancing peace, prosperity, and human progress.
Thomas Savidge

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10/28/25

Understanding Medicaid

This explainer will outline how Medicaid functions, the program’s costs, its influence on healthcare in the United States, and how the proposed policy changes in 2025 could reshape the program.
David C. Rose

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8/12/25

Foundations of Economics: It All Starts With Cooperation

It is by understanding the nature of cooperation that one can see how the evolution of all the other foundations of economics, and even the free market economy itself, was driven by the societal benefits from ever more effective cooperation.
David Hebert

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7/7/25

What Is the Jones Act—and Can It Be Fixed?

The Jones Act has been a staple of the American political landscape for over one hundred years. It has also created many unintended consequences.
David Hebert

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6/9/25

Who Really Sets Tariffs—and How?

In this Explainer, we’ll seek to understand what tariffs are, who gets to set them, and under what conditions.
Jason Sorens

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6/4/25

The Economic Tradeoffs of Property Tax Reform

How do property taxes work in the United States, and what are their economic consequences?
Thomas Savidge

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5/8/25

Do the Rich Pay Their Fair Share of Taxes?

Research Fellow Thomas Savidge digs into tax data to answer a frequently echoed question.
Nikolai G. Wenzel

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3/6/25

Argentina, 1500-2023: An Institutional Story

Argentina serves as a case study for the relationship between institutional environments and economic growth, as reality matches the theoretical predictions: economic freedom is a necessary condition for economic growth.
Thomas Savidge

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2/19/25

The Work vs Welfare Tradeoff Revisited

Explaining Welfare Benefits at the State Level