If you borrow then it’s not income. This is why no one in his right mind borrows to buy consumer goods. Those who try cannot sustain it for long… But what if someone else borrows?
MARKETS
Intellectual freedom cannot exist without political freedom; political freedom cannot exist without economic freedom; a free mind and a free market are corollaries. – AYN RAND
Efficient Malpractice
Take the notion of the efficient market. What does that mean? Today, hordes of people are coming out of economics and finance majors believing an absurdity. Yes, I said absurdity. They think that, if the market is efficient, it’s impossible to beat the average...
Crony Socialism: Government Bailouts Do Not Save Jobs
Can the government simply loan failing businesses money and “save jobs?”
Wage Theft
The actual “wage thieves” are the politicians and others who impose minimum wage laws and other directives on the private sector. By impairing and ultimately destroying economic growth, politicians like Hillary Clinton are the ultimate wage thieves.
Socialist Economic Reasoning: Idiotic or Dishonest?
Many people argue that liberals, socialists and progressives do not understand basic economics. I am not totally convinced about that.
Making Good Business Decisions
A quality decision is one that leads to achievement of values.
Equality of Opportunity Versus Equality of Outcomes
Enabling all Americans to prosper and have greater opportunities is a far more achievable goal than equal outcomes.
Apple vs. the Goliath U.S. Government
It does not matter how rich Apple is, or becomes. In the end, the government can do whatever it wants, at least so long as it keeps pushing the limits outside of its Constitutional boundaries, while our courts and citizens do absolutely nothing.
The Myth of Stealing American Jobs
America doesn’t lack economic growth and jobs because China, or other countries, “steal” them. America lacks economic growth and jobs because its own government will not permit its economy to function freely and fully, as a private market economy can and should.
Errors in the “Stakeholder” Approach to Running a Business
The “stakeholder” approach is based on the mistaken premise that everyone that makes a claim on a business must be—or deserves to be—treated equally, and that the business must appease every critic.
Capitalism Does Not Breed “Tyrannical” Bosses
Tyranny—the cruel and oppressive treatment of others by those in positions of power—is not possible under capitalism.
Move Over Entrepreneurs, Make Way for Speculation!
Central bank apologists assert that zero interest will help the economy. It hasn’t yet, and it never will. However, the main concern by both Fed defenders and foes alike is the worry that prices might rise. Well, prices aren’t rising now. So the former are smug and the latter are frustrated.
They miss the real harm of zero interest.
Market Magic: The Logical Alternative to Government Bureaucracy
People have long lists of things they think the market can’t possibly do — from building subways to fighting wars. Sometimes, the market does them anyway.
No Need to Boycott Amazon.com
There is absolutely no moral reason to boycott the company.
The Struggle for Economic Liberty: Free Market Uber vs Fascist Taxi Unions
Many cities have granted monopoly power to taxi companies — the right to prevent entry by others.
Who the Heck Consumes His Capital?!
To make people eat their seed corn, we need to add the essential element: a perverse incentive. Let’s look at monetary policy in this light.
Entrepreneurs: Breaking the Bureaucracy of Rules
FedEx turned out to be much better than the U.S. Postal Service, teens ignore Hollywood and become rich and famous on YouTube, people skip hotels and find rooms via Airbnb and so on. Who knows what discoveries await if we don’t let tired old rules get in the way?
John Stuart Mill: Setting Liberals on the Road to Socialism
One of the great voices for personal liberty was that of the British economist and political philosopher, John Stuart Mill. His essay, “On Liberty,” though penned well over 150 years ago, is a classic statement that the individual should be respected in his right of...
The Economy is in Liquidation Mode
Imagine running a rink company at the end of the roller skating craze. You know it is not going to survive for long. How do you operate your business? You milk it. Well, that’s now happening across the entire economy.
Business Hero: Resolute Forest Products CEO Richard Garneau
Resolute Forest Products’s CEO Richard Garneau is a business hero.
The Nuclear Deal is Mostly about Oil
No one knows what such a Middle East will look like. But given the volatility of the region, change is unlikely to be pretty.
Yield Purchasing Power: $100M Today Matches $100K in 1979
I wrote a story about poor Clarence who retired in 1979, and even poorer Larry who retired last year. I created these characters to challenge the notion of calculating a real interest rate by subtracting inflation. The idea is that the decline of a currency can be measured by the rate of price increases. This price-centric view leads to the concept of purchasing power—the amount of stuff that a dollar can buy. It’s the flip side of prices. When prices rise, purchasing power falls.
Currencies Depend on Faith, Gold Doesn’t
In his July 17th Blog, Let’s Get Real About Gold, author and Wall Street Journal columnist Jason Zweig likened investor interest in gold with the “Pet Rock” craze of the 1970’s, when consumers became convinced that a rock in a box would provide...
Why Government Deficits and Debt Do Matter
Why it would desirable to incorporate a balanced budget amendment into the U.S. Constitution.
The War on Uber
Hillary Clinton gave a speech warning that the new “sharing economy” of businesses such as the ride-hailing company Uber is “raising hard questions about workplace protections.” Democrats hate what labor unions hate, and a taxi drivers’...
Mayor de Blasio Bully Villain; Uber American Hero
Uber is hugely successful, posing a threat (via competition) to New York city’s cab companies. The mayor and other members of the New York City government seek to protect those cab companies by throttling, impeding or otherwise undercutting Uber.
Pragmatism is Impractical in the Long Run
Why does it rule in business?
The Great FreedomFest Debate Was Like Watching Tom and Jerry
With apologies to his fans, Jerry is an evil little mouse who constantly pesters Tom the Cat. Tom tries and tries, but cannot seem to overpower someone who is a fraction of his size and strength.
Watching Stephen Moore attempt to debate Paul Krugman was like that.
Wealth Gap
Nearly 10,000 people turned out to hear Bernie Sanders in Wisconsin. Why? Apparently, many Democrats want socialism.
On A Woman on The $10 Bill
A woman will be on the new $10 bill, bumping Alexander Hamilton aside.
Interest – Inflation = #REF
The notion of nominal interest paints a misleading picture of losing purchasing power..
Altruism and Economics
How do people’s ideas on morality affect their economics?
Subscribe for free.
Latest pro-Capitalism goodness sent weekly to your email box.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.