by Dan Mitchell | May 16, 2019 | Blogs, Economics
I shared a video last year that pointed out that Americans live in a nation that became prosperous thanks to “creative destruction.” That’s the term developed by Joseph Schumpeter to describe the economic churning caused by competition, innovation, and markets...
by Dan Mitchell | Apr 28, 2019 | Uncategorized
Looking through an economic lens, what’s the best country in the world? If your benchmark is economic liberty, then Hong Kong is the answer according to both the Fraser Institute and Heritage Foundation. If per-capita GDP or per-capita wealth is your benchmark,...
by Dan Mitchell | Jun 15, 2018 | Blogs, Economics, Taxation
One of the core principles of economics is that prices are determined by supply and demand. That includes the price of labor – i.e., the wages received by workers. Another core principle is that taxes create distortions by reducing demand and supply. Which is why it’s...
by Dan Mitchell | Apr 8, 2018 | Big Government, Blogs, Economics, Welfare and Entitlements
There is a lot of good news about the job market in America. The official unemployment rate, released just yesterday, is down to 4.1 percent, which is the lowest its been since the end of the Clinton years. Even more impressive, the number of people getting...
by Dan Mitchell | Jan 5, 2017 | Big Government, Blogs, Economics, Regulations
It’s time to channel the wisdom of Frederic Bastiat. There are many well-meaning people who understandably want to help workers by protecting them from bad outcomes such as pay reductions, layoffs, and discrimination. My normal response is to remind them that the best...