Economics
Ayn Rand & Objectivism, Economics, History, Philosophy, Politics & Rights
Adam Smith, Ayn Rand, and the Philosophic Foundation for Freedom
Jon Hersey May 24, 2023
Adam Smith and Ayn Rand are widely considered to offer merely different flavors of pro-capitalist thought. But their differences are greater—and far more consequential—than their similarities.
Economics, Politics & Rights, Science & Technology
Johan Norberg on Openness, Innovation, and Flourishing
“The key to remaining an optimist,” says Norberg, “is to ignore politics, at least a little. . . . Read a science magazine to look at the interesting research and the innovations that are taking place. You’ll realize that even under the worst of circumstances, the worst politics and the nastiest tempers, people continue to improve the world.”
Ayn Rand & Objectivism, Economics, Philosophy
Ayn Rand vs. Classical Economists
Martin Hooss May 21, 2022
Ayn Rand’s case for capitalism stands in marked contrast to what might be termed the classical defense of capitalism. “The classical economists attempted a tribal justification of capitalism on the ground that it provides the best ‘allocation’ of a community’s ‘resources,’” she wrote.
Economics, Education & Parenting, Science & Technology
Bryan Caplan on Freedom and Innovation
Angelica Walker-Werth February 21, 2022
At Students for Liberty’s Freer Future Fest in Nashville, I spoke with Dr. Bryan Caplan about freedom and innovation. Caplan is a professor of economics at George Mason University, a scholar at Cato Institute, and the author of four books (plus several in progress), most recently Open Borders: The Science and Ethics of Immigration.
Economics, Philosophy
Why Jeff Bezos Is Not a “Tech Mogul” or “King of E-Commerce”
Thomas Walker-Werth February 18, 2022
A king is only a king if he maintains his rule through force. An entrepreneur cannot resort to force; his means of success is voluntary exchange. Next time you hear someone criticize “tech moguls” or the “king” of any given industry, this distinction may come in handy.
Economics, Politics & Rights
Star Trek, Marx, Maezawa, and the Moneyless Dream: Utopian or Dystopian?
“Money rests on the axiom that every man is the owner of his mind and his effort.” —Ayn Rand
Economics, History, Reviews
The Financial Programs of Alexander Hamilton, by a Farmer’s Daughter by Dianne L. Durante
Raymond C. Niles October 22, 2021
Despite some of Hamilton’s surprising errors, such as his support for mercantilism, his programs prevented the new republic from floundering, as Dianne Durante has shown. Hamilton is worthy of our admiration, and so is Dr. Durante for having done such a fine job of bringing Hamilton and his policies to life.
Economics, Politics & Rights, Science & Technology
Seven Reasons Why the Aviation Industry Is a Wonderful Thing
Thomas Walker-Werth October 16, 2021
The restrictions on travel imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic devastated the aviation industry. Now, environmental crusaders and governments threaten to deal it a mortal blow. Can you imagine what the future will be like if they succeed and we lose the many benefits of aviation?
Economics, Politics & Rights
Why California’s Move to Ban Gas-Powered Generators (and Lawn Equipment) Could Leave Californians in the Dark
Jon Hersey October 6, 2021
California legislators have not only cut ties with reality—failing to see that they’re heading for ever more blackouts—they also want to cut their citizens’ last lifeline to reliable power when blackouts inevitably occur.
Economics, Politics & Rights, Reviews
Where Have All the Capitalists Gone? Essays in Moral Political Economy by Richard M. Salsman
Robert Begley August 25, 2021
Anyone interested in philosophy, politics, or economics will benefit from reading Where Have All the Capitalists Gone? It is an important and accessible explanation of capitalism, which clearly shows why it is the only social system for a free and prosperous future.