Interventionism

Myths about taxation are just one reason we need good economic reasoning now more than ever.

Many still maintain that the developing world is being exploited by free markets, and that the humane solution is more foreign aid. In fact, free markets are nowhere to be found in the developing world, and we find much poverty as a result.

Communities like Baltimore and Ferguson have been crippled by government regulations and the American nanny state.

The video game industry has been criticized for taking advantage of tax breaks, with critics claiming that the industry is being "subsidized" by a smaller tax bill. But, there's a very big difference between a tax break and a subsidy.

Many economists have many theories about why economic growth in many advanced economies is stagnating. Some seem to think it’s irreversible, but a good look at creeping government regulation might offer a few hints as to the true cause.

It is now commonplace for governments to measure economic prosperity with GDP metrics. Numerous arbitrary rules and faulty assumptions behind these measures, however, skew our view of how economies grow and living standards improve.

Some now blame employers that don’t pay a “living wage” for the fact that so many people receive welfare payments. So, the politicians want to tax employers for every minimum wage employee they hire. Needless to say, this won’t solve the problem.

Homer Economicus is the subject of a question on the TV show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?"

Many poverty relief laws and policies are premised on the assumption that only "the rich" will bear the costs. In fact, the incomes and well-being of many low-income individuals are taxed and diminished to benefit a nebulous group known as "the poor."

What if the government ran hair salons and the private sector provided auto registrations? Needless to say, getting a haircut would be a harrowing and soul-crushing experience. Meanwhile, registering your automobile would be another matter entirely.