Category:Regulations
Permissionless innovation: The fuzzy idea that rules our lives
September 19, 2017 | Post
People sometimes ask me, “What is the most important concept in political economy?” The answer is easy, but subtle …
Reddit AMA with Professor Ilya Somin of George Mason University
September 12, 2017 | Post
Ilya Somin is Professor of Law at George Mason University. His research focuses on constitutional law, property law, and the study of popular political participation.
How the government makes natural disasters so much worse
September 11, 2017 | Post
Many of the most expensive flood and storm disasters in US history have occurred in recent decades. The glib response is to blame the severity of these catastrophes on climate change, but are we looking in the wrong direction?
The Ethics and Economics of Choosing Publicly
July 20, 2017 | Video
Why do special interests gain so much control over government policy? Public choice economics can explain. To get notifications for all our new videos, click the bell above.
2016 Presidential Election: Job Creation
June 28, 2016 | Video
The job market is in the dumps, especially for young people. Luckily, politicians have come to the rescue! Trump promises he’ll be “the greatest jobs president that God ever created.” And Bernie plans to spend $18B to get our economy back on track. But if government takes tax money from some businesses to create jobs […]
Discussion Question: Gun Control
January 15, 2016 | Post
In March of 2015, the Obama administration proposed a ban on ammunition commonly used in AR-15 rifles. Are there functional differences between restricting ammunition and restricting the right of gun ownership? Should the government’s ability to control gun possession change based on the type of weapon? What are the distinctions, if any, between handguns, assault […]
Leave Maternity Leave Alone!
October 23, 2015 | Post
Washington D.C. council members introduced legislation that would provide 16 weeks of paid parental leave to almost all employees in the District — paid for by a new tax on private D.C. employers. The proposal has been greeted positively by the media, which frequently point out that the U.S. is one of the only countries […]
When government fails — Venezuela edition
October 21, 2015 | Post
The following blog post by Abigail Hall appeared on the Independent Institute’s blog on September 3rd, 2015. Below is an excerpt. Some people look at the conditions in Venezuela and point to oil prices as the source of many of its problems. The Venezuelan government, led by President Nicolás Maduro, blames opposition leaders for the […]
Economic Freedom: A Humanitarian Case
October 16, 2015 | Post
Without economic freedom, we cannot exercise our other freedoms. The freedom to speak is meaningless if the government prevents us from traveling from our homes or paying for a phone call. The freedom to write is meaningless if the government prevents us from selling newspapers. The freedom to worship is meaningless if the government forces […]
Octoberfest Is the Best
October 16, 2015 | Post
It’s October, which means it’s one of the best months of the year for drinking beer. Whether it’s the crisp, clean taste of an Oktoberfest or the soft, spicy kick of a pumpkin ale, the seasonal brews available this month bring us some great variety after a summer of drinking our favorites. In the three […]
Medicare: The Numbers Don’t Speak for Themselves
October 15, 2015 | Post
I got a powerful reminder a few months ago of a lesson I learned in grad school: numbers don’t speak for themselves. We must interpret them alertly if we are to learn from them.The numbers I came across are these: [Medicare] spends roughly $3 on administration for each $100 of medical services it buys for […]
Uber and the sharing economy: a new way of living
October 12, 2015 | Post
Earlier this year, I was making travel arrangements for a trip to Charleston. I booked my flight and hotel, and was about to book a rental car when I thought “wait a second. Charleston has Uber, doesn’t it?” It does, and I took UberX—the service that allows anyone who meets Uber’s requirements to drive for […]