Liberty
Latest numbers show ‘sputtering’ labor market
John Puri writes for National Review Online about disturbing new economic data. The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its jobs report for February. … The numbers are not great, to…
Economics
social science that studies the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services
Agriculture
Publicly owned grocery stores are a bad idea
New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani recently made headlines by proposing five government-owned grocery stores — one in each borough — as a kind of “public option” for food.…
Liberty
Assessing California’s Minimum-Wage ‘Disaster’
Editors at National Review Online ponder the Golden State’s experience with a government-mandated minimum wage. One of the fundamental principles of economics is that if the price of something goes…
Freedom Focus
Freedom Focus
Being vs. Seeming in Crafting Policy
“To be rather than to seem” is a great guiding principle for effective public policy. Many policies started with good intentions don’t bring about the desired outcomes. Policymakers guided by…
Research Brief
Energy
There’s Nothing “Market-Driven” About Cooper’s Trucking Order
Market decisions are voluntary and based in buyers and sellers exchanging their own property at prices they mutually agree upon — that is basic economics. Using executive orders, taxpayer money,…
Budget, Taxation & Economy
Unemployment Increased in All But Two of North Carolina’s Counties in June
Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) increased in all but two of North Carolina’s counties in June, according to the latest release from the North Carolina Department of Commerce. Twenty counties in the…
Education
Recession 2022: What Will Teachers Teach and Students Learn?
As the 2022-23 school year approaches, the United States economy appears to be sliding into a recession. Unfortunately, North Carolina social studies standards offer few opportunities for students to develop…
Liberty
Thomas Sowell, Influential Social and Political Theorist, Celebrates His 92nd Birthday
Today is the 92nd birthday of arguably the most influential social and political theorist of our generation, Thomas Sowell. Sowell has written over 30 books in his career that has spanned…
Liberty
Baby Formula Shortage Highlights Problems With ‘Price Gouging’ Complaints
Editors at Issues and Insights use the baby formula shortage to teach an economics lesson. As night follows day, the shortage of baby formula around the country has politicians shouting…
Research Brief
Law & Public Safety
More Cops, Less Crime
A large and growing body of academic literature confirms that police presence deters crime and helps maintain public order. Increased police presence has been shown to be an especially effective…
Liberty
Mike Walden: Clear Possibility We Will Have a Recession In Late 2022
Hang onto your seats, everyone. Tired of your grocery bill going up and up each week? Inflation is the problem we face today, but a recession could be the problem…
Budget, Taxation & Economy
How California environmental overregulation caused “Containergeddon”
"The bottleneck in California (caused by that state’s stringent emissions laws) led directly to bottlenecks at every other port in America."