Nov 04 Column: Is the military’s unpredictable budget leading to a readiness crisis? By Vikram Mansharamani The United States may spend more money on its military than any other country in the world, but the Pentagon’s budget has suffered from a lack of predictability. Continue reading
Nov 03 Column: Is your anger about the election based on facts? By Jim Stone You have every right to be an angry voter this year, but it's not OK to be an ignorant or passive, angry voter, writes Jim Stone. Continue reading
Nov 02 Column: How cities and states are leading the fight for more beneficial trade By Edward Alden "The right question is not whether trade is good or bad for the United States," writes Edward Alden in his book "Failure to Adjust," but "whether the United States has used the new opportunities created by international trade to boost… Continue reading
Oct 28 Column: How intellectual property rules help the rich and hurt the poor By Dean Baker It is not the technology that determines who gets the benefits of major innovations; it is laws that govern technology, which in turn are made by politicians. Specifically, the laws on patents and intellectual property more generally will determine whether… Continue reading
Oct 27 Column: Why do wealthy nations unravel? A lack of nationalism, says this economist By Todd G. Buchholz In "Price of Prosperity: Why Rich Nations Fail and How to Renew Them," Buchholz argues that as nations become more wealthy and more prosperous, they begin to unravel. He points to factor such as eroding nationalism and work ethic, a… Continue reading
Oct 27 Column: With its currency woes, will Nigeria let market forces do their job? By Vikram Mansharamani Nigerian President Muhammudu Buhari has tried to control the currency market rather than allowing market forces to fully determine foreign exchange rates. But there are also signs of market liberalization. Continue reading
Oct 26 Column: Questionable Social Security and Medicare policies put seniors in a bind By Philip Moeller Social Security announced last week that its annual cost of living adjustment would be a paltry three-tenths of 1 percent in 2017. This small increase is not only unfair to Social Security recipients, but will also trigger an absolute mess… Continue reading
Oct 24 Column: Do we need librarians now that we have the internet? By Robert Graboyes For better or worse, the digital age forces experts to make the case that a Google search doesn’t replace the librarian, and WebMD doesn’t replace the doctor. Continue reading
Oct 21 Column: What shadow economies cost us in dollars and lives By Vikram Mansharamani We tend to think of markets as the open, above-ground institutions described in economics classes. But we miss a lot by ignoring the shadow economies that exist all over the world. Continue reading
Oct 20 Column: $15 minimum wage won’t hurt workers? Don’t take it seriously By Mark J. Perry Many of us in the economics profession recognize that the minimum wage is a terrible and cruel public policy, one that reduces employment opportunities for the most vulnerable Americans. Continue reading