Interventionism

Government officials cannot stand to be mocked, but Brazil's finance minister and his tax plans have made the regime the target of a new wave of mockery.

As inflation gets worse in Nigeria, politicians call for price controls and other government interventions. Unfortunately, they never consider the option of free markets. 

Antitrust regulators claim that antitrust law and enforcement is necessary to preserve competition and foster economic innovation. In truth, antitrust law is anti-innovation and anti-competition.

By appealing to tariffs and other forms of economic regulation, Republicans have tossed aside any commitment to free market economics. Unfortunately, their program will lead to more economic stagnation, inflation, and runaway government spending.

As the Federal Reserve manipulates the money supply and interest rates, the yield curve becomes a less reliable indicator of economic activity. The more the Fed plays havoc with the system, the more we see the boom-and-bust syndrome.

Accusations are aimed at the fashion industry of "exploiting" their models and other workers. Yet, it is much easier to accuse an industry of exploitation than it is to define what exploitation might be.

People are tempted to think we need government regulation and intervention in product safety.

There is no general social benefit from government spending regardless of how it is financed.

The economic historian views government regulation through the lens of cronyism.

Economic mythology said governments must regulate markets to prevent monopolies. In reality, it is the government regulation itself that creates monopolies, which do not emerge in free markets.