The Student Debt Racket

The student debt crisis isn’t a natural market phenomenon; it’s the predictable result of decades of government interference. Since 1980, average tuition and fees have increased by 1,200 percent, while consumer price inflation has risen only 236 percent over the same period. This massive increase has left students and families struggling to keep up, often forcing them to take on substantial debt just to attend college.

What is Economics and What Makes a Good Economist?

Economics, at its core, is the study of cause-and-effect relationships—analyzing how scarce resources, which have alternative uses, are allocated. Individuals respond to incentives, costs, and opportunity costs based on the subjective value each individual places on the choices they make. It is these choices that shape the outcomes we observe in society. Thomas Sowell reminds us, “Incentives are not just monetary—they include prestige, risk, fear, power, and pleasure. People respond to all of them.”

Another Reason to Ban Tik-Tok?

According to the July Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, prices rose by 2.7 percent over the past year, and by 3.1 percent when the “volatile” food and housing sectors are removed from the calculation.

Markets rose following the release of the CPI since the increase in price inflation was not as high as expected. This led to an increase in expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates next month.

The Alaska Summit in Perspective: Steve Hanke on U.S. Strategy and Russia’s Position

In a candid interview with The Times of India, Steve Hanke, Professor of Applied Economics at Johns Hopkins and Distinguished Senior Scholar at the Mises Institute, calls the Trump–Putin Alaska summit “a photo-op,” arguing Russia already holds the upper hand in Ukraine. He explains why Moscow has the leverage and what it means for U.S. strategy and global security.

 

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Japan Rice Price Crisis Reveals a Twofold Policy Dilemma

The price of table rice in Japan has skyrocketed. As of June 2025, the average wholesale price had reached 27,102 yen per 60 kilograms. That’s 452 yen per kilogram —or roughly $3.12 at the current exchange rate. In retail, the average price of a 5-kilogram bag had surpassed 4,285 yen ($29.50). Compared to 2021, the price of table rice had more than doubled, causing widespread unease among the Japanese public.