Intermediate

Standard beliefs say that government protects our natural environment while the market system destroys it. Economic analysis gives a much different perspective.

The late Dr. Thomas Szasz, who was well known to libertarians, believed using coercion to treat psychiatric patients was a form of torture. He left a legacy of freedom in a profession that has all but abandoned liberty.

No matter the historical era, governments have excelled at one thing: debasing their own currency. Rome was no exception, as Roman government excesses required inflation—lots of inflation.

Popular commentators and politicians often express loud opinions about exchange rates and balance of payments. As Dr. Frank Shostak writes, the facts differ widely from popular perception.

While government officials and politicians denounce high drug prices, they have created monopoly privileges for drug firms, thus ensuring higher-than-competitive prices for pharmaceuticals.

Today, we see Russian athletes, artists, and musicians punished because of their government's invasion of Ukraine. The last time Russia invaded another country, President Jimmy Carter decided to punish American Olympic athletes.

Although social media says otherwise, neutrality in the Ukraine-Russia conflict is a good thing.

Gun control advocates are using lawsuits to try to destroy private gun manufacturers. Despite legal protections for the gun industry, this strategy may well succeed.

The likely election of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as the next president of the Philippines might create nostalgia for the martial law his father declared as president. Martial law, however, holds no promise for a thriving economy.

Current rates of inflation are worse than what the government claims. Not surprisingly, the government gains when people are fooled.