While theory is important, I suspect most people are more likely to be convinced by real-world evidence. This is why I frequently compare nations when arguing that free markets and small government are the best way of generating prosperity. Simply stated, I want…
Daily Analysis
Free Markets vs. Racism
Although I play basketball (poorly), I’m not a fan of the NBA. As such, I don’t pretend to have much interest in the Donald Sterling controversy. Some people have wondered whether his rights to free speech are being infringed, but I disagree. He obviously has the…
The Economics of Creative Destruction
In the battle of ideas, supporters of capitalism and economic liberty sometimes face an uphill climb because of a perception of heartlessness. When companies get in trouble, we’re the mean people who don’t want to give bailouts. When workers are laid off, we’re the…
CF&P Joins Call to Let Crony Export-Import Bank Expire
A coalition of 30 free market and taxpayer advocacy organizations is calling for the end of the export-import bank. CF&P joined the Americans for Prosperity-led coalition in signing a letter that explains how the Export-Import Bank distorts markets and harms…
Ukraine’s Self-Imposed Statism Crisis
Using a comparison of Jamaica and Singapore, I recently argued that growth should trump inequality. Simply stated, a growing economic pie is much better for poor people that incentive-sapping redistribution programs that trap people in dependency. In other words,…
Why Did Western Nations Continue to Prosper in the 20th Century even though Fiscal Burdens Increased?
In the pre-World War I era, the fiscal burden of government was very modest in North America and Western Europe. Total government spending consumed only about 10 percent of economic output, most nations were free from theplague of the income tax, and the value-added…
Where Will the Canadians Go for Health Care Now?
While Canadians are defensive about their health care system, and often times hold it up as a superior model, tens of thousands nevertheless voted with their feet in 2013 for America’s quasi-market system. Each year the Fraser Institute surveys physicians across…
New Data Shows Big Loss of Economic Freedom in the United States
My favorite Heritage Foundation publication (other than…ahem…my studies on government spending and the flat tax) is the annual Index of Economic Freedom. Like the Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom of the World and the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness…
The Most Pro-Capitalism Place to Live in North America Is…
Back in February, I said Australia probably was the country most likely to survive and prosper as much of the world suffered fiscal collapse and social chaos. In hindsight, I probably should have mentioned Canada as an option, in part because of pro-growth reforms in…
The Pope Is Wrong about Capitalism: Free Markets Are Best for the Less Fortunate
Forget the debate over whether Obama is a socialist. Now we’re discussing whether Jesus is for big government. Or, to be more accurate, the Pope has started a debate about whether free markets are bad, particularly for the poor. Samuel Gregg of the Acton Institute…