Jane Jacobs: The Spontaneity of Cities by Sheldon Richman July 1, 2006 Lovers of freedom, cities, and spontaneous social processes lost a great champion April 25 when Jane Jacobs died at age 89. She was truly a remarkable woman. With no more than a high-school diploma, but also a keen eye for what other people miss and the ability to turn a phrase, ...
Thank You … for a Free Market by Jacob G. Hornberger June 30, 2006 Have you ever noticed how often both sides to an economic transaction say, “Thank you” to each other? For example, when the cashier at the grocery store says to the customer, “Thank you,” more often than not the customer responds, “Thank you,” rather than “You’re welcome.” Why is this so? The reason has ...
Government Keeps People Poor by Sheldon Richman June 28, 2006 Washington reruns are boring. A Democrat beholden to Big Labor proposes an increase in the mandated minimum wage. Republicans beholden to Big (and small) Business defeat the bill. End of episode. Each side has thus reestablished its bona fides with its respective constituency and thus can return to what it really ...
Oil Profits and the “Gassy” Political Classes by William L. Anderson April 1, 2006 In the wake of the twin behemoths, Katrina and Rita, gasoline prices went past $3 a gallon for the first time in U.S. history. Even accounting for inflation, the nation saw its highest prices ever at the pump. It was a made-to-order moment for the political classes in this country, and they did not disappoint, putting on a combination ...
The New Mercantilism by Sheldon Richman March 17, 2006 When the old-fashioned colonial powers like Great Britain ruled the waves, and mercantilism was the world’s organizing principle, the developed nations got cheap raw materials from the undeveloped nations and in turn sold them expensive finished goods. We may think that mercantilism and colonialism have been left behind, but as the French say, the more things change, the ...
The Separation of Economy and State by Jacob G. Hornberger February 1, 2006 Hardly a week goes by without some free-market think tank or foundation’s publishing an analysis of some government program, pointing out its inevitable “waste, fraud, and abuse” and then issuing what has become a standard bromide: “The system needs reform.” This game is, of course, endless because all government ...
Minimum Wage, Maximum Intervention, Part 2 by Laurence M. Vance December 1, 2005 Part 1 | Part 2 All arguments for the minimum wage come down to this: since no family can survive on an income lower than the minimum wage, it is the job of government to mandate a minimum wage to keep people out of poverty. No matter how elaborate the argument, this is the bottom line. Even if ...
Economics for the Citizen, Part 10 by Walter E. Williams December 1, 2005 Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 In 10 short articles, there’s no way to even scratch the surface of economic knowledge. I’ll simply end the series with a ...
Economics for the Citizen, Part 9 by Walter E. Williams November 8, 2005 Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 We’re all grossly ignorant about most things that we use and encounter in our daily lives, but each of us is knowledgeable ...
Minimum Wage, Maximum Intervention, Part 1 by Laurence M. Vance November 1, 2005 Part 1 | Part 2 Many workers in my state of Florida received a pay raise this past May. No, Floridians did not suddenly become more productive and demand a salary increase because they are now more valuable to their employers. And no, Florida businesses did not suddenly become more profitable and decide to share their good ...
Stop Consumer Gouging! by Sheldon Richman October 28, 2005 A phone call I’d like to hear: Voice: Price-gouging tip line. How may I help you?Mr. Jones: I’d like to report price gouging. Voice: Yes sir. Where is this price gouging occurring? Jones: At the Exxon station on Route 286, right in my neighborhood. Voice: What is the price being charged? Jones: The price for a gallon of ...
Profiting from Misfortune by Sheldon Richman October 5, 2005 Amid the shrieks of price gouging as hurricanes ravaged the Gulf coast were a few voices of good economic sense. They correctly pointed out that when supplies of vital goods are disrupted, nothing matches the price system for restoring normalcy as quickly as possible. It does so by encouraging ...