The Real Price of a Free Lunch
Economic ignorance allows us to fall easy prey to political charlatans and demagogues, so how about a little Economics 101? How many times have we heard “free tuition,” “free health care,” and free you-name-it? If a particular good or service...Political Power and Knowledge
Despite clever and hard-working political handlers who have done a masterful job of concealing and distracting attention from John Kerry’s voting record in his long Senate career, and the liberal vision behind that record, glimmers of reality still break through...Liberals Cannot Level
Sometimes little things can tell you about big things. While Senator John Kerry and his running-mate Senator John Edwards were recently being photographed at lunchtime at Wendy’s, to show what regular guys they are, their real lunch was from a local yacht club,...Dispelling Some Crude Myths About Oil’s Real Impact
Economists are beginning to panic about the recent run-up in the oil price (+36%, year to-date, to $44.4/barrel) and its likely future impact on stock prices, profits and output in the U.S. But there’s no reason to panic. A fast-rising oil price is no necessary...Bullish on Asia
Returning from my latest trip to Asia, I’m both exhilarated and perplexed. Exhilarated because Asia is booming, and it’s a joy to see. Thailand, my main stop this time, is growing at 7 percent a year — twice as fast as the United States and about...High Prices at the Gas Pump: NIMBYS, BANANAS and Greens
Prices at gas pumps are at some of the highest levels ever this summer and Americans want answers. In particular they want the names and numbers of those to blame. To answer that question perhaps they should simply consult the phone book or look in the mirror. Because...The Olympics Represent the Best of Western Civilization
The Olympics were born, and then reborn, in essentially secular, man-worshiping societies.

