New Book Offers Bleak Look at Paul Ryan's Hometown
In 2008, Obama told GM factory workers in Janesville, Wisconsin, that the plant would "be here for another 100 years." It has since closed, leaving thousands unemployed.
Economics
It Costs a Lot When Government Sets Prices
Be it cigarettes, imported products, or even labor.
The Only Solution to the Trumps' Conflicts of Interest
The heart of the potential for conflicts of interests is not the Trump business empire. It's the presidential power to steer benefits to particular interests.
France Election Preview: Terrorism, Socialism, Nationalist Socialism, and the Prospects for Economic Liberalization
Voters go to the polls Sunday, where two candidates will advance to the final round.
Zara Pulls Not-Pepe Dress After People Complain That All Frogs Are Now Hate Symbols
Good job, internet liberals, you got huge clothing conglomerate to stop selling one of its few works benefiting indie creators!
NYC Mayor Encourages Cigarette Smuggling with Plan to Massively Jack Up Prices
City with highest cost per pack also has highest bootlegging rate. Imagine that.
Katherine Mangu-Ward and Tyler Cowen on Robots, Death, and Complacency [Reason Podcast]
A conversation about The Complacent Class.
Welcoming Immigrants Means Higher Wages
'Immigration represents an opportunity rather than a threat to our economy and to American workers.'
Immigrant Diversity Boosts Native-Born Wages: New at Reason
New study finds that workers living in cities that welcome immigrants generally earn higher wages.
How Payday Lenders and Check Cashers Help the Poor
An Ivy League professor went to work in the industry to figure out why so many Americans choose to remain "unbanked."
The United Airlines Incident Does Not Require New Laws, Despite What Chris Christie Says. It Could Have Been Resolved by Intelligent Use of Markets.
The beaten-up Dao does not seem to have violated any contractual term that would give United the right to have him violently removed.
Why Should Police Help United Airlines Cheat Its Customers?
United's action in having a man attacked and dragged off a flight yesterday was heinous. So is the fact that police officers cooperated.
Is the Sky the Limit for the Debt Ceiling?
The best place to start would be a cap on all spending or a strict cut-as-you-go system.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Julian Simon Would Tell Us: America Needs More Immigrants
The economist taught that people are the "ultimate resource."
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
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
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.
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.
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.
Meet the Free Traders Who Don't Like Global Trade Agreements
Trump's unusual fusionism puts anti-WTO libertarians on the spot.
Taxes and Red Tape Keep Colorado's Marijuana Black Market Profitable
Meddling state officials have managed to make the legal pot market uncompetitive.
Disasters Should Be Dull
But as long as distant authorities are in charge, that's impossible.
