Daily Analysis

The Danish Dr.-Jekyll-Mr.-Hyde Paradox and Wagner’s Law

What nation is a role model for economic reformers? I’ve certainly cited Hong Kong as an example, but I’ve also explained that we can learn lessons – at least on certain issues – from nations such as Sweden, Australia, Canada, and the Baltics. Today, let’s talk about…

Economics 101 Video Tackles Poverty

Economics 101 Video Tackles Poverty

The latest video from our Economics 101 Series tackles poverty, an issue frequently used to pull heart-strings in support of big government policies. But as the video shows, big government redistribution schemes are not making the problem better, and are likely making…

Happy Fiscal New Year (with an Unhappy Obama Hangover)

Today, October 1, is the first day of the 2012 fiscal year. And if you’re wondering why America’s economy seems to have a hangover (this cartoon is a perfect illustration), it’s because politicians had a huge party with our money in FY2011. We don’t have final numbers…

A Real-Life Welfare Queen

During his 1976 campaign for the GOP presidential nomination, Ronald Reagan popularized the notion of “welfare queens” who bilked redistribution programs for thousands of dollars. It has since become non-PC to use such a term, but that’s never stopped me. Here’s a…