Expanding state
A trend toward increased government influence in economies and personal life is curbing growth, and freedom, in many Western countries. The outsized role of government results in misplaced incentives, overregulation – which restrains markets and competition – and irresponsible budgetary policies. It leads to planned economies and principalist, authoritarian, centralist and also socialist policies. As history shows, such governments inevitably fail in the end.
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GameStop and the future of financial markets
The story of what happened with GameStop shares in January is simple: certain investors made the wrong bet and lost. The market worked just as it should have. Regulators and many established financial players do not see it that way, though. Already, they are working together, using the episode to distort the market and strengthen their own positions.
Covid-19, the ‘white knight’ for irresponsible policies
Though a quick injection of funds was necessary to keep businesses running and to avoid suffering, governments have taken the crisis brought on by Covid-19 as an opportunity to further increase their grip on economies. The enormous amounts of spending are financed through money creation. The result of such processes ...
ECB: Pushing banks too far?
After the last economic crisis, the European Central Bank put in place strict rules to ensure banks were in a strong financial position. Now, to counter the pandemic's effects, authorities are pushing banks to take more risks in lending to households and businesses. But banks see a rough road ahead, ...
Biden can build on Trump’s successes
Joe Biden’s victory in the U.S. presidential election may mean less change than many expect, especially when it comes to the essential nature of the U.S.’s relationships with other countries. Moreover, President Trump had some important successes that instead of undermining, the president-elect should reinforce.
Examining Latin America’s ‘puzzle’ of low growth
Why do Latin American countries remain mired in sluggish economic growth? Economists have addressed the question with reams of analysis, but the answer is simple: low productivity. That in turn, has been caused by government involvement in the economy that has stifled competition and innovation. The real puzzle is what ...
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More Disruptions
Middle East politics
The region, one of the cradles of civilization, is going through a turbulent period of historic realignment. Its powers are vying for political, military, economic and religious dominance with local players and outside actors. Armed conflicts, mainly civil wars, are ...
Russia resurgent
Russia’s incursion in Ukraine raised alarm about a new Cold War, deepened with the intervention in Syria and allegations of meddling in U.S. elections. But the Kremlin’s new assertiveness is largely defensive, while Ukraine’s emergence as a nation-state undermines Moscow’s ...
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