On day 1 of Economics 101, you're taught that people respond to incentives. So why do politicians ignore that? Their efforts to help the most vulnerable often do more harm than good.

In my syndicated column this week, I look at why so few people break free of Section 8, the housing assistance program:... continue reading »

In my syndicated column today I write about how the Internet shows that regulation is often not necessary.

Complete strangers exchange big money there every day.

It does have regulation, just not government regulation... continue reading »

My syndicated column this week is about what is most likely to make you happy... continue reading »

In the "fiscal cliff" debate, most talk is about taxes. But arguing about tax rates misses the point. As I say in this week's column:... continue reading »

My column this week looks at the costs of government "solutions."

Intuition tells us that government is in the problem-solving business, and so the more laws passed, the better off we are. The possibility that fewer laws could leave us better off is hard to grasp. Kids visiting Washington don't ask their congressmen, "What laws did you repeal?" It's always, "What did you pass?"... continue reading »

It's logical to think that only government protects us from dangerous chemicals and bacteria in your food. But as I discuss in my syndicated column this week, it's not true.

A scare newsletter called "Food Poisoning Bulletin" warns that if government reduces food inspections, "food will be less safe ... (because) marginal companies ... (will) cut corners."

We're going to die!... continue reading »

What does President Obama's re-election mean for freedom? As I discuss in my syndicated column this week, individual liberty will be curtailed.

So... We need to "fix" government! According to P.J. O'Rourke, that requires:

... "fixing" government the way we neuter a cat or spay a dog... continue reading »

A couple weeks ago, I criticized Mitt Romney in a column for being a "Big-Government Man." So Ann Coulter came on my show to tell me that I am wrong (the interview here.) "What you call ‘pandering' is called getting elected," said Coulter... continue reading »

In my syndicated column this week, I explain why, in a free market economy, greed works.

On TV, my Fox colleague Bill O'Reilly says, "The recession was brought on largely by greedy Wall Street corporations."

Give me a break.

Bill's smart. If he believes such things, we who care about freedom have done a poor job communicating economics.

Blaming problems on "greed" is a mindless cliché. ... continue reading »

My column this week looks at regulations that promote political correctness. I recently covered this issue at the University of North Carolina.

Many colleges now impose "civility codes." Civility is nice, but enforcing a "civility rule" against offensive speech would put an end to lots of useful provocative speech. As a University of North Carolina student put it, "A picture of Mitt Romney would offend 70 percent of residence hall students." ... continue reading »