The Lighthouse®
Spearheaded by self-described “democratic socialist” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), the proposed “Green New Deal” is arguably even more foolish than the original New Deal. Ultimately, a carbon tax won’t satisfy the Green New Dealers, and more stringent fuel economy standards would raise automobile fatalities. Mixing government mandates with dubious environmental goals is a recipe for massive waste.
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By Richard K. Vedder (Forbes, 1/28/19)
Federal student loan programs turn out to be a bad deal for students. For every additional $1,000 increase in federal loan subsidies, a college will typically raise tuition by $600. Also, federal loan assistance has been found to reduce non-government financial support. To help students better afford college, private income-share agreements and other alternatives make far more sense.
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By John C. Goodman (Forbes, 1/30/19)
Large numbers of Americans are turning to short-term health insurance, limited-benefit indemnity insurance, and biblically inspired health-sharing plans. The four top “sharing” organizations now cover more than one million people—more than one-tenth the number enrolled in Obamacare exchanges.
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By K. Lloyd Billingsley (The Daily Caller, 2/8/19)
The most populous state in America has an ambitious new governor who may someday run for the White House. How will he differ from his predecessor? Jerry Brown favored high taxes and boondoggle projects such as the bullet train and massive water tunnels, but he cautioned against “single-payer” healthcare. Gavin Newsom favors single-payer but announced he will scale back the bullet train and drill fewer water tunnels.
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By Benjamin Powell (Fox Business, 2/14/19)
President Trump shocked many when, during his State of the Union speech, he proposed increasing the population of legal immigrants to “the largest numbers ever.” The next day he told reporters this policy change was economically warranted “because our unemployment numbers are so low, and we have massive numbers of companies coming back into our country.” Coupling increased legal immigration with funding for a border wall may succeed in moving the country forward, both economically and politically.
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Volume 21, Issue 7: February 19, 2019
By Robert P. Murphy (Institute for Energy Research, 1/16/19)
Spearheaded by self-described “democratic socialist” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), the proposed “Green New Deal” is arguably even more foolish than the original New Deal. Ultimately, a carbon tax won’t satisfy the Green New Dealers, and more stringent fuel economy standards would raise automobile fatalities. Mixing government mandates with dubious environmental goals is a recipe for massive waste.
READ MORE »
By Richard K. Vedder (Forbes, 1/28/19)
Federal student loan programs turn out to be a bad deal for students. For every additional $1,000 increase in federal loan subsidies, a college will typically raise tuition by $600. Also, federal loan assistance has been found to reduce non-government financial support. To help students better afford college, private income-share agreements and other alternatives make far more sense.
READ MORE »
By John C. Goodman (Forbes, 1/30/19)
Large numbers of Americans are turning to short-term health insurance, limited-benefit indemnity insurance, and biblically inspired health-sharing plans. The four top “sharing” organizations now cover more than one million people—more than one-tenth the number enrolled in Obamacare exchanges.
READ MORE »
By K. Lloyd Billingsley (The Daily Caller, 2/8/19)
The most populous state in America has an ambitious new governor who may someday run for the White House. How will he differ from his predecessor? Jerry Brown favored high taxes and boondoggle projects such as the bullet train and massive water tunnels, but he cautioned against “single-payer” healthcare. Gavin Newsom favors single-payer but announced he will scale back the bullet train and drill fewer water tunnels.
READ MORE »
California Dreaming
Lessons on How to Resolve America’s Public Pension Crisis
Lessons on How to Resolve America’s Public Pension Crisis
By Lawrence J. McQuillan
By Benjamin Powell (Fox Business, 2/14/19)
President Trump shocked many when, during his State of the Union speech, he proposed increasing the population of legal immigrants to “the largest numbers ever.” The next day he told reporters this policy change was economically warranted “because our unemployment numbers are so low, and we have massive numbers of companies coming back into our country.” Coupling increased legal immigration with funding for a border wall may succeed in moving the country forward, both economically and politically.
READ MORE »
The Economics of Immigration
Market-Based Approaches, Social Science, and Public Policy
Market-Based Approaches, Social Science, and Public Policy
Edited by Benjamin Powell
The Beacon: New Blog Posts
- Tariffs Remove Options and Necessarily Reduce Economic Well-Being, by Robert Higgs
- Ding-Dong! California’s Bullet Train Is Almost Dead!, by Craig Eyermann
- Dodge a Bullet, Dig a Tunnel, Dole Out Dollars, by K. Lloyd Billingsley
- A VAT Is a Crock, by K. Lloyd Billingsley
- Nothing Changes at the TSA, by Craig Eyermann
Catalyst: New Articles
- Gene Replacement Can be the Cure that Patients – and Taxpayers – Have Been Looking For, by Ross Marchand
- Let’s Take a Break (From Gov), by Ben Wilterdink
- Right-to-Try’s First Rescue: A Patient with Terminal Brain Cancer Gets Treatment, by Raymond J. March
