EconLog Archive
Supply-side Economics
The Case for Tax Cuts
For an antidote to the interventionist Atlantic Monthly, see this open letter signed by a number of conservative economists. As a rule, government cannot create wealth or expand the economy. Only the private sector can do that. Government can, however, hinder economic growth through excessive taxes, high marginal tax rates, over-regulation, or unnecessary spending. Accordingly, .. MORE
Cross-country Comparisons
U.S. Best–or Worst?
In the Atlantic Monthly’s “State of the Union” issue, Ted Halstead says that for the American economy it is the best of times and the worst of times. We boast more patent applications than the entire European Union; almost three times as many Nobel laureates as Britain, our closest competitor; and more business start-ups per .. MORE
Information Goods, Intellectual Property
The Economics of Web Logs
EconLog is a Web Log, or Blog. My view is that some of the value of blogs comes from the collective filtering that they provide. I sketch a sort of economic model, in which everyone lives on a circle, with information needs similar to people who are closest on the circle. I live in the .. MORE
Books: Reviews and Suggested Readings
The Case for Teaching Economics
When asked by edge.org’s John Brockman what he would do if he were science advisor to the President, Steven Pinker’s reply included: Observers from our best science writers to Jay Leno are frequently appalled by the innumeracy, factual ignorance, and scientific illiteracy of typical Americans. This has implications in countless areas of the public and .. MORE