Venezuela Reminds Us That Socialism Frequently Leads to Dictatorship
Nicolas Maduro's Venezuela is one place where Friedrich Hayek's most dire warnings remain relevant.
Economics
National Endowment for the Arts
We Can't Cut the NEH, New York Times Columnist Says, Because Books Are Important
Nicholas Kristof conflates the fate of federal subsidies with the fate of the humanities.
Baltimore Mayor Supported $15 Minimum Wage Until She Learned What It Would Do to City's Economy
It's no April Fool's joke. Mayor Catherine Pugh vetoes a $15/hour wage mandate, citing economic concerns.
This Mississippi Bill Could Be the Beginning of the End of Occupational Licensing Cartels
New measure would give executive branch officials greater oversight over licensing laws, preventing boards from creating unaccountable, anti-competitive rules.
Dems Horrified That Somebody Besides Gov't Might Spend $1 Trillion on Infrastructure
Trump's attempt at wooing Democrats with transportation billions runs up against their anti-private-sector ideology
Turns Out Congressional Republicans Don't Really Want to Cut Spending
GOP politicians admit that President Trump's draconian cuts to the regulatory state aren't going to happen.
Human Conditions Improving at a Remarkable Speed
Over the last decade, GDP per person and life expectancy are up around the world while infant mortality and undernourished rates are down.
Miami Targets Homeowners Who Opposed Airbnb Ban
In Miami's war on Airbnb, speaking up can make you a target. City manager says residents who spoke at hearing are now "on notice."
Steve Bannon vs. the Tea Party Libertarians [Reason podcast]
Nick Gillespie, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Matt Welch talk Trump, Ryan, gender-neutral pronouns, DJ Khaled, and more.
Banks Flagging Frequent Pharmacy Trips, Bulk DVD Rentals, and Other Ordinary Activity to Turn Over Tips to Government Snoops
All sorts of normal behavior are now triggering financial surveillance as banks try to comply with confused government policies on human trafficking.
Philadelphia Says Soda Tax Revenue Exceeded Projections in February, While Pepsi Stops Offering Two Liter Bottles, Six-Packs
The city wants to borrow $300 million based on how much it thinks it'll raise from the tax.
Poor White Americans Are Dying of Despair
In contrast, the mortality rate for college-educated whites continues to fall.
National Endowment for the Arts
Think of the Children Before Scrapping the NEA, Says Mike Huckabee
The former Arkansas governor argues that federal subsidies for the arts are "essential," because creativity.
Julian Simon Would Tell Us: America Needs More Immigrants
The economist taught that people are the "ultimate resource."
Donald Trump's Fantasy World (Reason Podcast)
Nick Gillespie, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Matt Welch talk deficits, Chuck Berry, Gorsuch, and the Bezos bot.
The Cost of Carrying Debt
Low interest rates ease the pain of carrying so much debt. But in the long run, somehow, the U.S. will end up paying for it.
U.S. Carbon Dioxide Emissions Fall 3 Percent
Global emissions flat for 3rd year in a row despite strong economic growth
Another Taxpayer-Funded Cleantech Company Goes Bankrupt
Aquion Energy files for Chapter 11. Will Tesla's Gigafactory be next?
The Complacent Class, Sex Robots, and Deathbed Regrets: A Conversation with Tyler Cowen
Get your daily dose of unconventional economic analysis.
Frederick Douglass Hated Socialism
He stood for natural rights, racial equality, and economic liberty in a free labor system. At the heart of his worldview was the principle of self-ownership.
Why Are Markets Rejoicing at Trump's Win?
The incoming president may not be good for the economy in the long run.
President Trump: Pharmaceutical Price Controls Are a Bad Idea
Americans would save some money now, but at the long-run cost of sicker and shorter lives
Trump and Medicare Drug Price Controls: New at Reason
The unintended consequences to Americans' lives and health would be substantial and bad
Even Freed from Regulations, Don't Expect Coal Jobs To Return. Or Factory Jobs, Either.
Some industries die natural deaths and Donald Trump and others shouldn't try to change that.
Robot Tax = Protectionism Against Progress
Taxing automation would slow down progress and ultimately make most of us poorer than we would otherwise be.
Snuggies Are Blankets, Not Clothes
Federal trade court rules that lazy coziness will be taxed at a lower rate.
Natural Gas Drives Energy Costs to Record Lows
The U.S. has successfully decoupled economic growth and energy demand.
High Heels a Workplace Hazard? U.K. Parliament Debates Legality of Shoe Sexism
British citizens are asking their government to "make it illegal for a company to require women to wear high heels at work."
The Social Cost of Carbon and Congress: New at Reason
Underpins 80 federal regulations purportedly worth one trillion dollars
Why Trade Can Still Thrive Under a Protectionist Like Donald Trump
Pietra Rivoli, author of The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy, talks to Reason about the politics of trade.
Trump's Over-Praised State of the Union: The New Fifth Column
Why Paul Ryan was clapping at policies he's long opposed, how POTUS could be a strong de-regulator, and why the media cares 100x more about presidential theatrics than the war in Yemen
Why Is Twitter a For-Profit Platform, Anyway?
The idea that Twitter should be run by the federal government is silly. But perhaps the platform isn't best operated as a for-profit public corporation.
Trump's Economic Illiteracy on Display in Address to Congress
The president takes a reckless stance on free trade, entitlements, and debt reduction.
In Praise of Jurisdictional Competition: The Case of Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa
Zambia sees Zimbabwe's economic missteps as South Africa looks to repeat them.
Trump's Immigration Policies Are Causing a 'Trump Slump' in U.S. Tourism
The businessman turned president's hysterical fear of terrorists is bad for business.
The NEA Today, Entitlements Tomorrow
Is the OMB's kill list a sign of fiscal seriousness or the opposite?
Why Customers Like Check Cashers and Payday Lenders
Many Americans prefer alternatives to traditional banking.
An Immigration Crackdown That Could Make Crime Problems Worse
When people aren't safe asking for protection from violence, bad consequences are sure to follow.
Mexico Fires Back Against Trump With Plan to Target U.S. Farmers
A Mexican senator will introduce a bill to end all corn imports from the U.S.
Which Countries' Shadow Economies Are Biggest?
Greece, Italy take the lead; the U.S. keeps it relatively small.
This Indiana Town Wants to Fine a Community Out of Existence on Behalf of Private Developers
Charlestown can't seize the properties, so it's citing them to force them to sell.
Federal Infrastructure Spending Is a Bad Deal
Trump should choose privatization over nationalization.
Carbon Dividends: Solve Man-Made Climate Change While Shrinking Government?
Carbon tax and dividend plan would eliminate all EPA carbon regulations, all clean energy subsidies, and all energy efficiency standards.
