Economy

Map of the world with pins

The Fed and YouTube illustrate an approach to governance we should avoid.

By Justin Katz | September 30, 2021 |

Two very distinct news stories in my feed this morning seem to share something intrinsic.  The first involves the challenge facing the (unelected) Federal Reserve: Resolving “tension” between high inflation and still-elevated unemployment is the most urgent issue facing the Federal Reserve right now, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday, acknowledging the central bank’s two…

Mike Stenhouse and Richard August on State of the State 9/27/21

State of the State: Management of COVID-19 Money

By Richard August | September 29, 2021 |

Mike Stenhouse and Richard August discuss the turf battles surrounding money the federal government gave to Rhode Island for recovery from the pandemic.

A water drop and ripples

As progressives rally to take “the whole F!@#$%^ State House,” RI must consider the consequences.

By Justin Katz | September 29, 2021 |

You can insist it’s immoral or simply scoff as if these folks don’t count, but this is simply the sort of thing that happens when radicals seize control: A potential lurch to the left in Germany’s election on Sunday is scaring millionaires into moving assets into Switzerland, bankers and tax lawyers say. If the center-left…

Gina Raimondo

America, beware Raimondo’s slick talk.

By Justin Katz | September 29, 2021 |

To be honest, there isn’t much content to the topic, yet, but Rhode Islanders may find themselves triggered by the Epoch Times’ headline on a Reuters article featuring our former governor, Gina Raimondo:  “US Commerce Chief to Push Investment in Domestic Economy.” “For America to compete globally, we must invest domestically—in American workers, American businesses,…

A woman with a bitcoin over her eye

Cryptocurrencies add nothing to the pricing of immaterial values.

By Justin Katz | September 28, 2021 |

For a recent episode of the Jordan Peterson Podcast, the host had a conversation with four Bitcoin enthusiasts: John Vallis, Richard James, Gigi Der, and Robert Breedlove.  As befits a college professor and intellectual, Peterson leads them to cover the basics of the technology as well as to explore some of the more-profound implications of…

Copenhagen, Denmark

Denmark shows how socialism creates a permanent underclass.

By Justin Katz | September 22, 2021 |

A July episode of the Econtalk podcast is worth your time.  University of Chicago Economist James Heckman (a Nobel Laureate) and host Russ Roberts discuss the former’s research on social mobility in Denmark, a country with frighteningly detailed data on all of its citizens.  Here’s a key point worth teasing out, from Heckman (emphasis added): … Denmark…

Pipes

A young entrepreneur in the trades shows how the economy ought to work.

By Justin Katz | September 21, 2021 |

The story of Canadian plumber Noah Fladager, as related by Louise Bevan in The Epoch Times, illustrates exactly the ideal around which public policy should be formed: A young plumber, and father, who quit a secure job to go solo is celebrating the fruits of his labor. Not only does he now employ others, but he’s…

A water drop and ripples

The bright Amazon cloud in Johnston does have a dark shadow.

By Justin Katz | September 20, 2021 |

It would be difficult to argue against welcoming an Amazon distribution center in Johnston.  That’s a lot of money that will flow into Rhode Island and one of its municipalities. There’s even an important and encouraging observation to be made about the fact that it will be in Johnston, with its conservative-Democrat mayor, Joe Polisena. …

A stack of boxes outside a door

Politics This Week with John DePetro: In and Out of Power and Everything In Between

By Justin Katz | September 20, 2021 |

John and Justin talk about people and groups that are in and out of political races and trends.

A man sips espresso with a view

Conservative redistributionists consider something progressive redistributionists don’t: human nature.

By Justin Katz | September 17, 2021 |

When Ray Rickman mentioned his support for progressive wealth redistribution during his State of the State conversation with Mike Stenhouse, Sten didn’t want to redirect the conversation into that debate, only mentioning (because he couldn’t not say anything, of course) that the big question is who the angels are to decide when enough is enough.  If…