Protectionism and Free Trade

This week's avocado ban—and the behind-the-scenes regulatory regime governing avocado imports—reminds us that there is no such thing as free trade between the US and Mexico.

Conservatism is allegedly grounded in a recognition of the natural limits of humanity. But when it comes to free trade, conservatives throw all that out the window.

Tariffs and trade controls are little more than tax increases and a chance to further empower a bloated bureaucracy. Not surprisingly, Biden doesn't appear to be enthusiastic about embracing free trade.

Conservatism is allegedly grounded in a recognition of the natural limits of humanity. But when it comes to free trade, conservatives throw all that out the window. 

Tariffs and trade controls are little more than tax increases and a chance to further empower a bloated bureaucracy. Not surprisingly, Biden doesn't appear to be enthusiastic about embracing free trade.

The 2021 Nobel Prize in Economics has been awarded to Berkeley's David Card, MIT's Josh Angrist, and Stanford's Guido Imbens for their work on "natural experiments," a currently fashionable approach to estimating the causal impact of one economic variable on another. 

Some think that beer's history of regulation begins with hops, but beer has been hemmed in by government red tape for much longer.

Some think that beer's history of regulation begins with hops, but beer has been hemmed in by government red tape for much longer.

Most people understand that it's a good thing when others invest money and capital in your community. But when Canadian investors offered to pour money into France as part of a deal to buy a French company, the regime said no thanks.

Most people understand that it's a good thing when others invest money and capital in your community. But when Canadian investors offered to pour money into France as part of a deal to buy a French company, the regime said no thanks.