Trump's Energy Picks Are Refreshingly Competent
If confirmed, Chris Wright and Gov. Doug Burgum will have the opportunity to prioritize innovation and deregulation to the benefit of taxpayers and the environment.
Economics
Beer Lobby Wants Restrictions and Higher Taxes on Intoxicating Hemp Products
The proposal brings to mind the classic "bootleggers and Baptists" theory in which both moralists and competitors oppose a substance.
Abolish the Commerce Department
Donald Trump has tabbed Howard Lutnick to be the next secretary of the Department of Commerce. He should also be the last.
California Bucks Alaska and Missouri by Rejecting Minimum Wage Ballot Initiative
The Democratic state displayed more economic literacy than its Republican counterparts.
Brazilian President Blames Markets for Inequality. He's Wrong.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva blames neoliberalism for the very problems it solves.
Democrats Did Themselves No Favors by Veering Hard to the Left
Economics likely spelled doom for Harris, but extreme ideology sealed her party’s fate.
Photo: The First Commercial Spacewalk
Civilian astronauts on a SpaceX mission traveled more than 800 miles away from Earth.
European Commission Fines Meta for Serving Consumers
If advertisers don’t want to give data to Facebook Marketplace, they shouldn’t advertise on Facebook.
The National Debt Just Hit $36 Trillion. Does Trump Have a Plan To Control It?
It would take nearly $8 trillion in budget cuts merely to stabilize the national debt so it does not grow faster than the economy.
DOGE's Chances Are Slim, but It Might Be Our Only Hope
Congress and the president show no interest in cutting government. Maybe outsiders can get it done.
Matt Gaetz's Personality Irked His GOP Colleagues. There Are Better Reasons To Oppose His Nomination.
The nominee for attorney general passes the Trump loyalty test, but he lacks relevant experience and has repeatedly demonstrated poor judgment.
Abolish the Federal Alcohol Tax and Regulation System
The states already overregulate alcohol. There's no need for a federal layer of red tape.
Abolish Antitrust Law
Having a large market share may just mean that a company is really good at what it does.
Abolish the Federal Minimum Wage
There is a "virtual consensus" among economists that the minimum wage puts people out of work.
Abolish Federal Student Loans
Easily accessible student loans give colleges an incentive to raise tuition.
Trump's First Term Wasn't Fiscally Responsible. Will His Second Be Different?
Even before the pandemic spending increase, the budget deficit was approaching $1 trillion. The GOP has the chance to embrace fiscal sanity this time if they can find the political will.
The Impact of Trump's Cost-Cutting Initiative Hinges on What He Means by 'Government Efficiency'
Narrowly understood, the president-elect's familiar-sounding plan to tackle "massive waste and fraud" may not give us "smaller government" in any meaningful sense.
Jet Blue and American Airlines Guilty in Antitrust Suit, Despite No Clear Harm to Consumers
The First Circuit's ruling is another blow to the consumer welfare standard.
Trump Has No Discernible Interest in Fiscal Responsibility
The president-elect’s record and campaign positions belie Elon Musk’s talk of spending cuts.
Is Being a Mom Bad for Your Career?
A recent study showed women experience a short-term "motherhood penalty" but their earnings rebound within a decade.
Modern Crafters Rediscover an Old Sweater
Knitting's evolution from necessity to leisure activity is a testament to economic progress.
How Much Will Trump's Tariffs Cost?
Much of the detail remains to be worked out, but lawmakers and corporations are already preparing.
The Empty Promises of Industrial Policy
Despite decades of bipartisan attempts, industrial policy keeps failing to deliver on promises from both the left and the right.
Sean Baker's Anora Is a Riotous Celebration of Working-Class Life
It's Pretty Woman for the modern age, and one of the best movies of the year.
During Trump's Second Term, the Supreme Court's Critics Will Be Grateful for Its Restraining Influence
The justices, including Trump's nominees, have shown they are willing to defy his will when they think the law requires it.
Good Riddance, Lina Khan
Under Khan's leadership, the Federal Trade Commission has been bad for business and bad for consumers.
Central Planning Won Big on Election Night
The bipartisan embrace of industrial policy represents one of the most dangerous economic illusions of our time.
Colorado Might Allow More People To Provide Veterinary Care
A ballot initiative to create a new category of medical providers for animals is winning approval, though votes are still being counted.
Can an Immigrant Workforce Save Dying Factory Towns?
“Beardstown…exemplifies the opposite of the falsehood that is being spread about Ohio.”
Massachusetts Voters Protect the Right To Work for Tips
The tug-of-war over what role the government should play in regulating compensation for tipped workers has subverted typical partisan lines.
If Trump Wins, It's Because Neither Party Had the Guts To Stop Him
Donald Trump left the White House in January 2021 as a defeated, disgraced figure. He now seems likely to return to the presidency.
Study: Mass Deportation Could Put 28 Million People at Risk of Family Separation
It would reduce job prospects for native-born workers, too.
The Inflation Election
Elections are decided by how people feel, and lots of Americans still feel pretty grumpy about how much it costs to go to the grocery store these days.
The Alarmingly High, Frustratingly Unknown Stakes of Election 2024
We don't know how Kamala Harris would wield her awesome power, and we don't know how the rule of law would constrain Donald Trump.
Bad Candidates Can't Fix Bad Politics
Voters say they want to "stop the madness." Expect the madness to continue.
Who's Gary Johnson Voting For?
The two-time Libertarian Party presidential nominee shares his thoughts on Chase Oliver and the election.
Final Published Version of "The Constitutional Case Against Exclusionary Zoning" Now Available
In this Texas Law Review article, Josh Braver and I argue that most exclusionary zoning violates the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment.
America's Unserious Presidential Policy Agendas
These two candidates can't even be trusted to explain their own ideas.
What Is the 'Working Class'?
When even most upper-income Republicans say they're working class, the term has become meaningless.
Political Ignorance is an Even Worse Problem than I Thought
I've long warned about the dangers of voter ignorance. But the Trump era and the current election reveal that, on one crucial point, I was actually too optimistic.
Your Right To Booze Could Be Impacted No Matter Who Wins the Presidential Election
From tariffs to dietary guidelines, this election may bring the biggest federal changes to alcohol since Prohibition’s end.
Mark Cuban on Pharmacy Prices, Health Care, and 'Good' Billionaires
"If you were an asshole when you were poor, you're going to be a bigger asshole when you're wealthy," the Shark Tank personality tells Reason.
Compendium of Writings About the 2024 Election and Issues at Stake [Updated]
Links to all my writings on these topics.
Countries With Economic Freedom Are Far Better Off
Even the poorest citizens of free countries fare better than the middle classes in economically repressive nations.
Feds Admit Fossil Fuels Are Still the Cheapest
A Department of Energy analysis found natural gas is the cheapest residential energy source on the market.
Exempting Favored Industries is the Wrong Way to Fix NEPA
The Building Chips in America Act shields CHIPS-subsidized firms from the National Environmental Policy Act.
