An interesting development has arisen on the issue of regulation.  It seems that some state legislatures have moved to limit how much local governments will be allowed to regulate businesses and people.  This is quite a development.  In the past usually the states were only too happy not only to regulate directly themselves but to […]

It began when the current Pope, Francis, succeeded Benedict XVI and proceeded to issue an encyclical dealing with economics.  Many at the time defended him and argued that he could be interpreted in such a way as not to be overly critical of markets and capitalism.  But Francis seems to have continued down an interesting […]

First let me say that I am saddened by the Amtrak tragedy in Pennsylvania recently.  Second, I admit I love trains—riding in them and watching them.  So I am not longing for railroads to disappear.  What I am disturbed about is the immediate use of this accident by Democrats  (and I am sure a few […]

The WSJ reports today that a day after the Democrats in the Senate repudiated Mr. Obama, the Senate agreed to allow a vote on Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), once the Republican leadership agreed to allow a vote to force the administration to punish “unfair” trade in the form of currency manipulation. The concern have over […]

I am sure our readers have been keeping up with the latest Islamic radicalism issue—the attempted terrorism in Garland, Texas at a Muhammed drawing contest.  The two terrorists were killed by police.  The featured participant and sponsor, Pamela Geller, was unharmed.  She had organized the event in order to promote free speech in the wake […]

Readers of this blog know I’m critical of the Obama administration generally on economic matters, nevertheless, as we say from my home state of Arkansas, “even a blind hog can find an acorn every now and again.”  The Democratic party has been generally hostile toward free trade for most of my life, while Republicans are […]

I recall a time when I delivered an academic paper in San Diego.* There were three of us on the panel, joined by a moderator. As I looked side-to-side at my colleagues, I noticed, quickly, that we outnumbered the audience by one. It was a riveting topic, eclipsed only by the aplomb with which we […]

The history of blockbusters is littered with poor sequels that were only sharp enough to pierce our expectations. These movies deflate. Like a beach ball that pops as soon as it touches the hot sand, we, the movie faithful, suckers that we are, are always in search of good times that are too rarely had. […]

Labels are both handy and hated.  In economics, we teach that branding and labels are ways to economize on the costs of information search.  So, for example, I go into the voting booth and on many lower-level candidates, I may not have much, if any, information on their positions.  But if I see a “D” […]

After a couple of responses to my first post on the solution to the problems of inner cities, I decided I ought to delve a little deeper.  I am responding here to two similar but different types of responses. One asks what can Christians do?  The other is a bit irritated at my alleged “Gospel-without-solutions” […]