Cronyism and Corporatism

A modern misconception of antebellum slavery is that it “built the country.” Actually, the institution of slavery, economically speaking, was a deadweight loss to the US economy.

President-elect Trump has promised changes in economic policies. How well they work and how they will affect us remains to be seen. Here is a look at proposals that have promise—and proposals that are likely to cause harm.

Politicians respond to pressure. If we want them to actually carry out the cuts they claim to stand for it’s up to us to provide that pressure.

Ireland is suffering from the same kind of housing crisis that has hurt the US. Not surprisingly, the crises in both countries have their roots in government intervention undertaken ostensibly to make housing more affordable.

In a previous post titled, “Why Doe

US entry into WWI assured a decisive Allied victory, but it also assured a victory for politically-connected US bankers who used the new Federal Reserve System to send newly-printed money to the Allies.

Commercial real estate in the US faces major problems despite efforts by the Federal Reserve System to prop it up. Bonds used to finance commercial real estate markets are being hit especially hard, and there is no relief in sight.

Critics of free markets claim that the 1980s and 90s were near-pure laissez-faire when, in reality, the regulatory state only got stronger. 

Those carrying out government directives are even less bound by law than they were a few years ago, and talk about new bureaucrats is beginning to resemble the Kremlinology of the Cold War.

President-elect Trump has promised changes in economic policies. How well they work and how they will affect us remains to be seen. Here is a look at proposals that have promise—and proposals that are likely to cause harm.