free trade | Learn Liberty

6 FREE MARKET Climate Solutions

July 30, 2024 | Video

In this video Reem walks us through 6 free-market principles that will maximize the likelihood of climate benefits in the future.

Why trade wars are wars on the poor

November 14, 2023 | Post

In the not-so-distant past, political leaders from both sides of the aisle in the United States held a general consensus on the benefits of free trade.

During their presidential campaigns in 2000, Al Gore and George Bush, despite their differences, at least agreed on the merits of fostering open markets.

Fast forward to the present day and we find Joe Biden and Donald Trump endorsing staunchly protectionist policies.

Let’s explore what caused this complete 180 and who bears the brunt when trade is restricted.

What is capitalism?

February 8, 2023 | Post

Capitalism can be viewed as an economic system that has been a driving force in many advanced economies, fostered growth and innovation, enabled people to lift themselves out of poverty, and greatly improved living standards. But it also has many staunch critics, who will argue that, regardless of outcomes or track records, it is a deeply harmful and exploitative system. So, to clear up any confusion, what really is capitalism, and what isn’t it?

A perfect storm for maritime policy: the Jones Act five years after Hurricane Maria

October 3, 2022 | Post

As world maritime trade increases, and the ocean’s critical role in human affairs grows, the United States will continue to fall behind. Congress should end or fundamentally alter the Jones Act. To do otherwise would be unjust.

Why a free society requires open borders

September 2, 2022 | Post

As long as they do not violate anyone’s rights, immigrants should be able to purchase property, engage in commerce, speak their language, and practice their faith in any manner they choose and within any borders.

New battlegrounds: liberty in a time of realignment

May 25, 2022 | Post

The factions people ally with are going through a dramatic change, but what is driving this political realignment and what does it mean for liberty?

U.S. sanctions are not responsible for the Cuban economic crisis

September 7, 2021 | Post

When a worsening economic crisis saw anti-government protests erupt in Cuba, the regime was quick to blame U.S. sanctions instead of its own policies

A global minimum tax rate will stifle competition and hurt consumers

September 4, 2021 | Post

The G7’s recent plan for a global minimum tax rate of 15% is a terrible idea that will hurt consumers and restrict competition.

Free trade lets us turn corn into cars.

January 25, 2018 | Post

From the American point of view, technology and trade are the same. From the human point of view, trade is better.

Dave Rubin and Deirdre McCloskey: Free Trade, Trans in Academia, and the (Classical) Liberal Heritage — Full Interview

June 4, 2017 | Post

One of the things that I’ve really been making the focus of this show is to show people what real, true, classical liberalism is.

Trump, Trade, and Great Power War

March 23, 2017 | Post

One of the signature features of President Donald Trump’s campaign was his hostility to free trade. Then-candidate Trump repeatedly denigrated various multilateral trade pacts as bad deals for the United States. Pulling out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, appointing opponents of free trade—such as Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro—into key positions, and promises of tariffs that are likely to […]

Exports only matter because they let us import

March 6, 2017 | Post

Among economics data watchers, a country’s exports enjoy a hallowed status. The ability of producers in country A to sell goods and services to people in other countries is taken as a sign of A’s economic strength, although the underlying metric for economic strength goes unmentioned. In addition, job counters across the spectrum constantly count […]

Will President Trump kill capitalism?

February 23, 2017 | Post

Capitalism—stronger than any border wall or immigration ban—remains a resilient and deeply American system.

Trade restrictions imperil our standard of living

February 17, 2017 | Post

“The market is not a place, a thing, a collective entity. The market is a process, actuated by the interplay of the actions of the various individuals cooperating under the division of labor.” – Ludwig von Mises

Explaining the Protectionist Instinct

February 10, 2017 | Post

One of the gravest economic mistakes that humans can make is to forget that ours is unavoidably a world of scarcity.

The moral and spiritual blessings of trade among all nations

February 7, 2017 | Post

Free trade doesn’t just make us better off. It makes us better people. Donald Trump claims that raising barriers to trade is one of the things it will take to “Make America Great Again,” but he is wrong. Greatness—both of wealth and of moral character—comes from trade. And we have known this for a very […]

The rules of trade

February 3, 2017 | Post

One of the most egregious misunderstandings about trade is that the government of country A should allow its people to trade freely with peoples of other countries only if governments of, and producers in, other countries “play by the rules” – which usually means “plays according to the rules that the rulers and politically powerful […]

Commerce is pointing the way to a more peaceful and prosperous Cuba.

January 23, 2017 | Post

Commerce brings out the best in human beings by providing incentives to care about others. Those who can’t rise above focusing on their short-term narrow needs have little ability to meet the needs of others.

Importers are exporters, exporters are importers. Slapping tariffs on imports would hurt our most competitive firms

January 22, 2017 | Post

In today’s globally connected world with dynamic global supply chains for raw materials and inputs, and global marketplaces for final sales, it’s an economic fact of the modern world economy that: a) exporters are importers and b) importers are exporters.