Economics
Why Is the Media So Negative?
"Everything that's bad is politics; everything that's good is the market."
Pence Says North American Trade Deal Will Boost U.S. Automaking Jobs. Don't Believe Him.
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement includes a handful of protectionist measures that would likely slow the U.S. economy and harm American automakers.
States Take Antitrust Aim at Big Tech
Everybody’s going after Google and Facebook. But how do you prove they’re harming consumers?
How Do You Lose Money Dealing Marijuana? Be a Government Agency.
Ontario has lost millions trying to sell cannabis.
Andrew Yang Is the Anti–Elizabeth Warren
A progressive who wants to empower the little guy instead of big government
On Trade, Democrats Continue Struggling To Differentiate From Trump
Elizabeth Warren is probably the worst of the bunch when it comes to protectionism, but few alternatives are emerging.
California's 'Workers Rights' Bill Does No Favors to Drivers or Consumers
California lawmakers have approved Assembly Bill 5, which poses an existential threat to the gig economy in the state.
Andrew Yang Makes Pitch to, Uh, Libertarians? 'It's Time To Trust Ourselves More Than Our Politicians'
The entrepreneur and long shot presidential candidate finds a libertarian-sounding way to pitch free money to voters.
New California Bill Says Uber's Drivers Are Employees. Uber Disagrees.
The bill would upend the gig economy.
California Passes Statewide Rent Control Despite a Massive Housing Shortage
Economists have long warned that rent control only limits housing supply and drives up prices in the long-run
California Has Completely Crapped the Bed Rolling Out Legal Marijuana
The black market still dominates. And more enforcement and fines aren’t going to fix it.
Will 'Winning' the Trade War Be Worth the Loss of More Than 300,000 Jobs?
A new analysis from Moody's says 300,000 jobs have been lost already, with another 600,000 hanging in the balance. Meanwhile, Trump is trying to reopen channels with China.
The Progressive Feeding Frenzy
The progressive agenda assumes that no amount of taking will ever lead to less earning.
Trump's Trade War Is a Loser for America
The president’s economic agenda is harming U.S. businesses and consumers.
Don't Hate Me Because I Bag My Own Groceries
According to a proposed Oregon ballot initiative, I am contributing to unemployment, social isolation, and underage drinking.
Trump Says Tariffs Are Driving American Businesses Out of China. Actually, 87 Percent Plan To Stay.
Foreign investment in China has not declined since the start of the trade war, either. In fact, it continues to grow.
Elizabeth Warren's Plans Don't Add Up
The Warren worldview of ill-founded economic pessimism is both bloodless and moralizing.
Bill de Blasio's Proposed 'Robot Tax' Is Completely Unnecessary, Just Like His Candidacy
Forcing future Americans to do manual labor that could be automated isn't "saving" them from job losses. It's trapping them in jobs that could be made more efficient, more productive, and more rewarding.
The Joyful Contrarianism of Gordon Tullock
Meet the economist who understood NASCAR crashes, the sale of indulgences, and the feeding habits of coal tits.
Uber and Lyft Offer Drivers a $21 Minimum Wage. California Lawmakers Say It's Not Enough.
The state is set to pass a sweeping bill that would reclassify drivers as employees.
Latest Trade War Casualties: More Than 10,000 Layoffs in August
The trade war should be thought of as a massive tax and regulatory scheme.
Union-Backed Ballot Initiative Would Limit Grocery Stores to 2 Self-Checkout Machines
The Oregon AFL-CIO argues that self-checkout machines are costing jobs and increasing social isolation.
Trump Is Terrible on Trade. Top 2020 Dems Are No Better.
Democrats are happy to criticize the president's trade war—but many are tacitly endorsing the same protectionist views.
Unions Aiming to Repeal California's Property Tax Caps
Californians' tax rates are among the nation's highest in almost every category, but their property tax levels have remained reasonable. That could change soon.
Should Amazon (and Google, and Facebook) Be Canceled by Antitrust Law?
Donald Trump, Elizabeth Warren, and "hipster antitrust" scholars and activists say big tech companies need to be broken up. Economist Tom Hazlett says they're wrong.
Trade Wars Have No Winners
As the U.S.-China trade war escalates again, farmers and small businesses are getting hurt the most, but global manufacturing is taking a hit too.
Young Americans Prefer Socialism Because They Are Ignorant of the Past: Camille Paglia
The controversial cultural critic rightly praises capitalism for its subversion of the status quo and its ability to make us fat.
How 'Price Gouging' Can Help Floridians in Hurricane Dorian's Path
High prices can bring much-needed supplies into a disaster zone.
Bitcoin at 10
A new book aims to chronicle the digital currency's ideological origins.
Congress Must Roll Back Trump's Tariff Authority
Sen. Chuck Grassley and the Senate Finance Committee will debate two bills this fall aimed at restricting presidential authority to impose tariffs without congressional approval.
California Might Resurrect Redevelopment Agencies That Were Wasteful Exercises in Corporate Welfare
Milton Friedman famously observed that "nothing is so permanent as a temporary government program." The rare demise of a government program, it seems, is temporary too.
Elizabeth Warren's 'Economic Patriotism' Doubles Down on Bad Policy
Maybe Trump and Warren should team up for their 2020 run to make room on the ballot for better ideas.
How Innovative Responses to Prohibition Set Off a Deadly Fentanyl Explosion
A RAND report highlights the importance of new synthesis methods, cheap international shipping, and online distribution aided by privacy-protecting technologies.
Donald Trump's Big Government Presidency
The Trump administration is pro-government intervention.
Joe Walsh Isn't Running on the Issues
The conservative radio host says he is running for president because Trump is “erratic" and "cruel." But Walsh has his own history to live down.
Elizabeth Warren's Pitch for 'Economic Patriotism' Is Full of Intellectual Dishonesty and Economic Fallacies
Warren needs to take a lesson from Leonard Read's "I, Pencil."
Can Bitcoin Replace Central Banking? A Debate
Listen to economists Saifedean Ammous and George Selgin face off at the Soho Forum.
Boycotting Big Meat Is Not the Answer to ICE Raids on Immigrant Food Processors
An open immigration policy means letting people from anywhere work for whatever amount they want.
Trump Announces Higher Tariffs. At Least He Called Them 'Taxes.'
Existing tariffs on Chinese imports will jump to 30 percent from 25 percent, and the next round of tariffs will be 15 percent instead of 10 percent.
As Trade War Escalates, Trump Has Impotently 'Ordered' American Businesses Out of China
Trump's economic nationalism has always been an exercise in petty authoritarianism, and it's increasingly difficult to see it as anything else.
The Libertarian Life and Legacy of David Koch
The billionaire philanthropist worked to create a world in which people are more prosperous and tolerant.
Can Bitcoin Replace Government-Issued Money? A Debate
Watch economists Saifedean Ammous and George Selgin face off at the Soho Forum.