Blatant Pension Expropriation

In general Poland has been moving towards greater economic freedom and stronger property rights. This trend made them the only European nation which did not suffer a recession during the European debt crisis.

But they’re taking a big step backwards … Read More

Fee at Last

They call it a fee, but it’s really a tax. The next tax hike of ObamaCare hit on Jan. 1. It’s a tax on medical devices and prescription drugs which is imposed through health insurance companies, because, you know, they … Read More

Well-Rounded?

Forget the argument that an elite college education is necessary to make one well-rounded, because it is increasingly likely to make one block-headed, narrow, ignorant and proud of it. The notion that, even though college might not be worth the … Read More

Why Does the Economy Feel So Bad?

A large majority of Americans are convinced that the economy is performing quite poorly. But usually after a recession the economy recovers quite quickly, and the deeper the recession, the stronger the recovery. This time is different, because this time … Read More

More Sticks and Carrots Capitalism From Japan

This year capital gains rates doubled, but you can avoid that if you put the money into a special account which can only hold Japanese equities. The proper way to get people to buy stocks is to make them attractive … Read More

Dear President Obama: I’m Only My Brother’s Keeper If My Brother Is My Sheep

Since Obama chose to repeat his abuse of the Scriptural phrase ‘brother’s keeper’ in his Christmas remarks. I thought I’d re-post my detailed refutation of the idea that the Bible says that we are supposed to be our brothers’ keepers. … Read More

The Hypocrisy of Humanitarian Interventions

If the current trend of the Syrian Civil War is not reversed, it will end in an Assad victory. And the recent in-fighting between opposition forces only makes that outcome more likely.

Much like the situation in Libya before … Read More

An Important New Book Which When Heeded Could Make a Difference

Ned Phelps’ new book is full of ideas which are both surprising and yet well supported by data and historical analysis. His respectful rebuttal of Schumpeter is worth the price of the book in and of itself. The distinction between … Read More

Ex-Central Planner Sees Error of Central Planning — Too Late

Good review of Alan Greenspan’s new book by international economist, Richard Rahn. It almost makes me want to read the book… almost. Main point is that after he has given up the levers of power, Greenspan has seen that central … Read More

The Most Important Chart For 2013

As we ring out the old and ring in the new, investors face what seems a fresh world of opportunity. After all, stock market gains exceeded 20% last year, with “more of the same, but not quite as much” on … Read More

Malaysia Cuts Spending, Gets Bond Rating Upgrade

The thing about being a small, emerging market country as opposed to a developed world welfare state, is that you can’t get away with fiscal bloat for long. Markets punish bad ideas quickly. That’s why Malaysia has been forced … Read More

China’s East Asian Gamble

The general consensus among analysts regarding the expanded Air Defense Identification Zone established by the People’s Republic of China in November is that it was simply a mistake. But when you consider the possibility that China is playing for … Read More

Spain Chooses Short Term Pain

… Which is a lot smarter than long term insolvency. If you don’t have many children and those few children don’t have many children, then you simply cannot afford the most generous pension system in the world, because there’s nobody left … Read More

The Middle-Eastern Power Vacuum

One of the central, but mostly unstated, foreign policy goals of the Obama Administration has been to decrease US involvement in the Middle-East. The Iraq War is over, the Afghanistan War is nearing its close, the US declined to … Read More

Capitalism with Chinese Characteristics

Last month the Chinese leadership held its Third Plenum — a meeting of the leaders of the Communist Party of China — to discuss and outline a somewhat unexpectedly ambitious plan for substantial economic and social reforms.

President Xi … Read More

Ingratitude: The Destroyer of Nations

Civic gratitude is not only a virtue, but a nation’s most necessary virtue. History bears that out. Rome was the greatest empire in ancient history, therefore its fall was the greatest fall the world had ever seen. Why did … Read More

What to Expect From the World’s Freest Economy

Hong Kong has a strong, historically established foundation of exemplary economic freedom that serves its long-term, ambitious goals of surpassing cities like London and New York. In its Index of Economic Freedom, the Heritage Foundation has consistently ranked Hong … Read More

Hong King Kong

From 2009 to 2011, Hong Kong’s IPO market boasted the highest value in the world. The highlight of this period was an explosive 2010, during which their 87 new IPOs were valued at $57 billion US dollars. Mainland China … Read More

The Middle Class is Disappearing Because the Vital Few are Under Attack

In an interview over the summer, Mr. Obama correctly emphasized both that “upside mobility was part and parcel of who we were as Americans” and also that such mobility has been “eroding over the last 20, 30 years, well … Read More

How to Leave a Legacy that Lasts for Centuries: Leadership Lesson of Johann Sebastian Bach

Music standards vary from person to person, but hardly anyone denies that some of the best music written is that by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750). It is difficult not to be moved emotionally when you hear the … Read More