Protectionism and Free Trade

Bob Murphy critiques New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani’s proposal for a government-run grocery store, dissecting its economic flaws and highlighting why such policies fail in practice.

The Power and Market group looks at the redistricting fight, tries to make sense of Trump’s trade deals, and discusses the possible meeting between Putin and Trump.

There is much gnashing of teeth and pulling of hair by just about every leader in the West, especially by an almost apoplectic President Trump, over a so-called “sinister threat” by the BRICS.

There is much gnashing of teeth and pulling of hair by just about every leader in the West, especially by an almost apoplectic President Trump, over a so-called “sinister threat” by the BRICS.

President Trump is proposing a $1.5 million levy on Chinese-built ships that enter US harbors. Since a majority of cargo ships have been produced by Chinese shipyards, the costs would be substantial. This action also would damage US exports, yet another unintended consequence of US policies.

President Trump is proposing a $1.5 million levy on Chinese-built ships that enter US harbors. Since a majority of cargo ships have been produced by Chinese shipyards, the costs would be substantial. This action also would damage US exports, yet another unintended consequence of US policies.

The White House is boasting about a new trade “deal” with the EU. But every supposed benefit that comes from the agreement applies only to a small subset of the country while leaving the American public, as a whole, worse off.

The White House is boasting about a new trade “deal” with the EU. But every supposed benefit that comes from the agreement applies only to a small subset of the country while leaving the American public, as a whole, worse off.

While it is tempting to see the economic success of Singapore and Hong Kong as similar, there really are stark differences between them. Hong Kong has developed through laissez-faire and entrepreneurship while Singapore is much more state directed.

While it is tempting to see the economic success of Singapore and Hong Kong as similar, there really are stark differences between them. Hong Kong has developed through laissiez-faire and entrepreneurship while Singapore is much more state directed.