Here's Why Rep. Justin Amash Opposes the CARES Act
The libertarian-leaning congressman says the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses discriminates against those that most need it.
Economics
How To Save the Economy From COVID-19
Health care expert Avik Roy says that even without widespread testing, it's time to reopen schools and allow healthy, younger employees to go back to work.
The Next Stimulus: Infrastructure Week, Another Rural Broadband Boondoggle, and Maybe a Sports Bailout?
It's obvious that there will be more government spending in response to the coronavirus, but distinguishing the essential from the nice-to-have is more important than ever.
Health Care Expert Avik Roy on Saving the Economy From COVID-19
"The more we lock down the economy, the more we harm those individuals who are most vulnerable, who don't have the cash cushions or the white-collar jobs that allow them to keep going."
What Each Side of the COVID-19 Debate Should Understand About the Other
The war between Openers and Closers shouldn't be seen as a fight between idiot death-worshippers and unnecessarily frightened tyrants.
Government Involvement Drives Up Costs
"The more government gets involved, or the more government regulation, the greater are the increases in prices over time."
Tennessee Will Allow 'Vast Majority' of Businesses To Reopen on May 1
And Georgia will reopen select businesses beginning April 24.
Shake Shack Received a $10 Million Small Business Loan. They're Giving It Back.
The company says it will return the money after it was announced that the Paycheck Protection Program ran out of funding.
A Harvard Plan To Use Massive COVID-19 Testing To Reopen the Economy
This proposal might work, but it's doubtful that our politicians and president are competent enough to pull it off.
Coronavirus Finally Gets Trump To Admit Americans Pay His Tariffs
The White House announced a temporary suspension of tariff payments as a way to stimulate the American economy, but the relief will not apply to tariffs on steel, aluminum, or imports from China.
Will COVID-19 Help Americans Break the Habit of Deferring to Centralized Authority?
We may find that we like making our own decisions.
No, Rep. Ilhan Omar: Amazon's Decision To Fire Three Workers Isn't a 'National Disgrace'
The congresswoman claimed that Amazon is "refusing to provide basic protective equipment to workers." That's not true.
COVID-19 Is Coming for Your Burgers
Plus: sensitive cellphone data swept up in coronavirus containment efforts, and more...
Trump's Plan To Reopen the Economy Admits Governors Are in Charge, but We're Probably Months Away From Anything Resembling Normalcy
"A national shutdown is not a sustainable long-term situation," Trump said Thursday evening. "We are not opening all at once, but one careful step at a time."
It Figures That Michigan Is Among the First States To See Protests Against Social Distancing
Plus: Puerto Rico criminalizes fake news about COVID-19, wide geographic disparity in U.S. income growth, and more...
The Paycheck Protection Program for Small Businesses Will Run Out of Money Today
The $349 billion loan program is meant to help small companies hit hard by social distancing.
What The New York Times' 1619 Project Gets Wrong About Capitalism: Phillip Magness
In a new collection, the economic historian documents how classical liberals pushed for abolition and equality in 19th-century America.
People, Not Politicians, Will Decide When the Coronavirus Shutdown Ends
It's not the politicians who have the power to reopen America, or at least the parts that are now closed. It's individuals, families, businesses, and religious congregations.
Budget Deficit Now Expected To Near $4 Trillion This Year
And more coronavirus stimulus spending could send that number soaring higher.
While Trump Rants, It's Governors Who Have Gone Full Captain Queeg
Don't let states and cities get away with onerous rules that in no way help to contain COVID-19.
The 'False Debate' About Reopening the Economy Is the One That Ignores the Enormous Human Cost of Sweeping COVID-19 Control Measures
A New York Times Magazine forum highlights the moral implications of suppressing economic activity.
Trump's Tariffs Are Still Slowing America's Coronavirus Response
General Motors is being charged import taxes on parts it needs to build ventilators. Its requests for relief have gone unanswered.
Restricting Exports Makes It Harder To Fight Coronavirus
Export restrictions only make sense if you're unable to understand the obvious consequences of that policy.
Good News: Coronavirus Death Estimates Keep Shrinking
From March 26 to April 8, the number of projected deaths from coronavirus dropped from 81,000 to 60,000. What should we do with such information?
Elizabeth Warren and Josh Hawley Will Do Everything Necessary To Combat Coronavirus (Unless It Involves Deregulation)
In two separate op-eds yesterday, the senators pitch central planning as the best response to the coronavirus pandemic.
4 Reasons Small Businesses Are Struggling With the Paycheck Protection Program
Unclear terms, unrealistic loan forgiveness, a site unprepared for launch, and a bottomless demand for cash
Donald Trump's Experiment in Radical Press Transparency Is Ugly and Praiseworthy
The president's daily press briefings are disturbing because of what they reveal, not what they obscure.
Flawed Economic Policies Will Exacerbate the Pandemic
The COVID-19 crisis has resuscitated some seriously bad ideas.
Did the $50 Billion Coronavirus Bailouts Effectively Nationalize America's Commercial Airlines?
The CARES Act gives the federal government the power to take large ownership stakes in the airlines and dictate much of their operations.
Make Pandemic-Related Occupational License Reform Permanent
Pandemic patients get better care when medical professionals are free to work where they're needed. The same will undoubtedly be true of regular patients after COVID-19 has left our lives.
When Businesses Die, Bringing Back Their Services Won't Always Be Possible
Event production is one of the less visible victims of the virus. Recreating their services when such companies die won't be easy.
The CFTC Velociraptor Has Escaped the Fence That Dodd–Frank Built to Contain It
“Can an independent federal agency that is supposed to regulate commodity futures assert power over every single purchase or sale of a commodity?”
How the CDC and the FDA Wrecked the Economy
The failure to conduct early and wide testing left politicians ignorant of basic facts about the COVID-19 epidemic.
Trump Wants $2 Trillion, Pelosi Wants $1 Trillion, for Next Coronavirus Spending Bill
President Donald Trump, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi all agree that a fourth spending bill will happen in April but are haggling over the cost.
Remy: Savage (Megan Thee Stallion Coronavirus Bailout Parody)
The last time we sent this much money to the Kennedy Center, it was for a pair of Hamilton tickets.
How Coronavirus Is Kickstarting the 21st Century
A global pandemic has done what 30 years of internet manifestoes never accomplished: a mass migration into our screens.
Why You Shouldn't Trust Anyone Who Claims 80 Percent of America's Drugs Come From China
A misleading statistic has made the rounds. But it’s based on a misreading of a government report that says no such thing.
Is the American Dream Dead?
When Americans feel like the future will be worse than the past, reactionary and socialist ideologies ascend.
The Federal Government Is Spending $60 Billion To Keep Mostly Empty Commercial Planes Flying Over the U.S.
Pending minimum service rules would require airlines to keep operating a certain number of flights, regardless of how little demand there is for air travel.
How 'Price Gouging' Helps Consumers During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Q&A with Duke's Michael C. Munger, who also believes that big cities will see rationing and that higher education will never be the same.
When 'Price Gouging' Is Good: Michael Munger
The Duke economist and political scientist discusses the response to COVID-19, the coming recession, and the end of higher ed as we know it.
Are There Fiscal Conservatives in a Pandemic? The Club for Growth Says It Doesn't Matter.
The Club for Growth prides itself on holding lawmakers accountable "by publicizing their voting record." Except, well…not right now.
Unemployment Claims Hit 6.6 Million. It's Officially Worse Than the Great Recession.
Plus: The feds are still targeting Juul, Call of Duty wins First Amendment lawsuit, and more...
The Trump Administration Presents a False Choice Between Current COVID-19 Control Measures and 'No Intervention'
The real action in the coming months lies between those two extremes.
The Private Sector Heroes Leading the Fight Against COVID-19
The free market adjusts. We don't need "production acts" to tell us what to do.
'Let's Do a Manhattan Project Against This Virus': Thomas Massie
The Kentucky Republican took on Donald Trump and Nancy Pelosi to fight against the $2 trillion coronavirus spending package. He's just getting started.
Spanish Flu Experience Might Indicate That Public Policy Interventions Don't Have Long-Term Economic Effects
Though focused on manufacturing and banking, this study sees economic optimism in quick and thorough interventions to keep people isolated.
