Economics

The Good Intentions Fallacy Is Driving Us Toward the Destructive Outcomes of Socialism 0
- Economics
- August 9, 2018
While Venezuela continues to collapse into a living hell for all but Nicolás Maduro and ruling elites, support in America for democratic socialism continues to rise. Graphic reports such as the recent New York Times photo essay about starvation in Venezuela abound: Kenyerber Aquino Merchán was 17 months old when he starved to death. His father left before dawn
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5 of the Worst Economic Predictions in History 0
- Economics
- August 9, 2018
Uncertainty makes human beings uncomfortable. Not knowing what’s going to happen in the future creates a sense of unrest in many people. That’s why we sometimes draw on predictions made by leading experts in their respective fields to make decisions in our daily lives. Unfortunately, history has shown that experts aren’t often much better than
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A Brief History of Russia Meddling in Other People’s Elections 0
- Economics
- August 8, 2018
U.S. Special counsel Robert Mueller on Feb. 16 indicted Russian individuals and entities for interference in the U.S. presidential election. This is not a one-off act of Russian interference. In the previous nine years, Russia has invaded its neighbor Georgia, annexed the Ukrainian province of Crimea and supported rebels in Eastern Ukraine. As a historian
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The Worst Emperor of Ancient Rome: Caligula 0
- Economics
- August 8, 2018
During the question-and-answer period after a lecture on ancient Rome, an audience member asked me, “Who would you rank as the Empire’s worst Emperor?” That was a tough one. I deplore concentrated power so I really don’t like any of them. Of the grand total of 178 emperors—81 in the Western Empire and 97 in
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Why California Cities Are Becoming Unlivable 0
- Economics
- August 7, 2018
In July, the mayor of San Francisco frankly stated that poverty in the city is so bad, that “there is more feces on the sidewalks than I’ve ever seen.” And it’s not just her – the local NBC investigative unit found a “dangerous mix of drug needles, garbage, and feces throughout downtown San Francisco.” While
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Why Straw Bans Don’t Help the Environment and Needlessly Restrict Freedom 0
- Economics
- August 6, 2018
Of all the consumer products one might have expected to become a flashpoint for political controversy, the humble plastic drinking straw is an unlikely contender. Leap into the headlines it has, though, with communities like Seattle and San Francisco recently enacting bans on disposable straws. The city council of Santa Barbara, California, initially voted for a ban
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