Liberty
Price controls — like other bad ideas — never die
John Hinderaker of the Powerline blog documents the latest revival of a bad idea in the world of public policy. Price controls are in the Hall of Fame of bad…
Price gouging
when a seller increases prices of goods, services, or commodities to a level much higher than is considered reasonable or fair
Liberty
Bureaucrats seek criminals behind rising gas prices
Editors at Issues and Insights highlight a misguided response to rising gas prices. Gasoline prices are spiking everywhere, particularly in California, with premium coming dangerously close to $9 a gallon last…
Liberty
Harris Turns From Joy to Fear in Campaign’s Closing Days
Andrew Stiles and Thaleigha Rampersad of the Washington Free Beacon report Kamala Harris’ latest electoral message. Vice President Kamala Harris ditched her “joyful” “vibes” for darker tones Wednesday during a…
Liberty
Fighting False Narratives About ‘Price Gouging’
Editors at Issues and Insights examine misguided political attacks against so-called price gouging during emergency conditions. Government officials waste no time threatening to crack down on “price gouging” during catastrophic…
Liberty
Democrats Privately Doubt Harris’ Price-Gouging Plan
Jack Birle writes for the Washington Examiner about Democrats’ reaction to a high-prpfile policy proposal from their presidential candidate. Vice President Kamala Harris unveiled one of her first major policy…
Liberty
Tillis’ anti-price-gouging bill
News & Observer reports on Sen. Thom Tillis’ price gouging bill, which would punish people and businesses who engage in price gouging during the coronavirus crisis: Under Tillis’ legislation, when…
Budget, Taxation & Economy
Does Gov. Cooper want more supplies or not? Mixed signals from his executive order
The governor is taking good steps to ensure we have access to health care professionals and medical equipment. He's taking the opposite approach to other necessities.
Education
Martin Center column targets high textbook prices
Megan Zogby writes for the Martin Center about the continuing problem of high college textbook prices. As college textbook prices have increased 88 percent since 2006, education reformers wonder how…
Regulation
Would a better understanding of economics lead to better policies?
To be helping people with well-considered policies is far, far, far preferable than to seem to be helping them but actually harming them with ill-conceived, well-seeming policies.
Regulation
Shortages and anti-“gouging” laws go hand-in-hand
Meanwhile, media are reporting on shortages in Florida as if those are solely the result of the storm and not from bad state policies that dissuade outsiders from taking any…
Budget, Taxation & Economy
“When supplies of drugs run low, drug prices mysteriously rise, data shows”
That’s the title of a recent piece in the online magazine ars technica. The subtitle is, “And the less competition, the higher the price hikes.” As David Henderson notes at…
Regulation
How JLF has discussed ‘price gouging’ over the years
If you are compassionate and want to make sure your friends, neighbors, and fellow citizens can still have access to necessities during a crisis, don't impose a good-sounding government policy…