Articles by Daniel J. Mitchell

Daniel J. Mitchell is a Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute, the free-market, Washington D.C. think tank. His articles are cross-posted on his blog, by agreement.

How strong is the Trump economy, and who to credit?

Because he’s all over the map, it’s not easy to assign an overall grade to Trump’s economic policy (especially since it’s an open question whether Trump is trying to liberalize trade or restrict it). if you’re fair, you admit that some of Trump’s policies -- like tax cuts -- are helping the economy and some are hurting the economy -- such as on spending. It's a mixed bag, but we should focus on economic freedom
by Daniel J. Mitchell - 28 August 2018
EU's Juncker celebrates Marxist totalitarianism

The ideology Marx gave rise to killed tens of millions of innocents. Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, illustrates his own moral blindness and the bankruptcy of the EU itself as he celebrates the 200th anniversary of the birth of Karl Marx. Thank goodness Britain will soon be rid of this awful institution
by Daniel J. Mitchell - 30 April 2018
Free markets out-perform “State-Led Capitalism”

Many on the Left have been forced to accept that capitalism is the best route to prosperity in general and the alleviation of poverty in particular. But they still don't understand that genuinely free markets and smaller states perform better than big government interventionism on both prosperity and poverty
by Daniel J. Mitchell - 22 April 2018
Elites vs People? Good globalism vs bad globalism

Globalism means different things to different people. Good globalism is about expanding trade and shared experiences. Bad globalism is about increasing the power of corrupt institutions like the UN. We need to be clear that free trade is the way to go, and the big government UN route is a cause of poverty and disenchantment
by Daniel J. Mitchell - 14 March 2018
Corbyn's World: The horror of Venezuelan socialism

Jeremy Corbyn's sympathies with dictatorial socialists worldwide are well known. It still makes one step back in horror when one recognises the terrible social oppression that Corbyn's heroes have caused. The shocking reality of socialism in Venezuela offers a sobering illustration
by Daniel J. Mitchell - 15 February 2018
US View: UK has a stronger Brexit hand than it thinks

The EU is terrified that an independent UK will become more market-friendly and thus put competitive pressure on its member states. It is also horrified at losing EU contributions. Theresa May needs to understand she has the upper hand, and stop behaving like a weakling against Eurocrats who genuinely have a lot to fear
by Daniel J. Mitchell - 1 February 2018
Lessons from India's private school revolution

Private schooling in India has achieved astonishing growth. And guess what. When you use market forces rather than rely on the state juggernaut you get better educational results, happier students and parents, and, wait for it, it's less costly. What's not to like?
by Daniel J. Mitchell - 24 January 2018
Mapping the world Donald Trump style

Donald Trump lends himself to satire like no other American president before him. But sometimes never a truer word is spoken than in jest. Do these three humorous maps of Donald Trump's world say something that goes beyond a joke?
by Daniel J. Mitchell - 17 January 2018
The good, the bad, and the ugly in 2018

Proper welfare reform in the US and the collapse of the regime in Venezuala are much to be hoped for in 2018. To be feared are a bad Brexit, due to EU intransigence, a Chinese bubble, and much else. It all depends on whether free markets and common sense win the day
by Daniel J. Mitchell - 2 January 2018
The tragedy of misrule in Zimbabwe

Mugabe's statist misrule has brought tragedy to a country that should be booming. At the very least, Zimbabwe should copy the neighboring nation of Botswana. Ideally, it could go farther and become the Chile or Estonia of Africa
by Daniel J. Mitchell - 24 November 2017
A century of terror: Communism continues to kill

North Korea wins the prize for practicing the purest remaining form of communism. But that’s not a prize worth winning. Unless the goal is horrific poverty and suffering. But the apologists are still with us, and they're not just on the Left
by Daniel J. Mitchell - 20 November 2017
A century of evil: Communism's 100 million dead

The staggering death toll -- perhaps as much as 100 million -- attributable to communist mass murderers continues to be downplayed in the West by shabby Left-wing pseudo-intellectuals with too much influence in our media, politics, and universities. A century after the Russian Revolution we should salute the victims, and name and shame the apologists
by Daniel J. Mitchell - 3 November 2017
The dismal record of George W. Bush

Never get hung up on labels. The economy suffers just as much if a Republican expands the burden of government as it does when the same thing happens under a Democrat. Bush was a Republican but some Democrats performed better. His record is frankly dismal
by Daniel J. Mitchell - 26 October 2017
US economist: Britain's post-Brexit path to prosperity

The EU is terrified that Britain will become a low tax, business friendly haven after Brexit. But that is exactly what Britain can now become, and it will ensure a stellar future outside the confines of the failing Brussels behemoth
by Daniel J. Mitchell - 28 September 2017
Demographic doom and the welfare state

Simply stated, redistribution programs only work if there is a sufficiently large supply of new taxpayers to finance promised handouts. Even Europe's most efficiently run welfare states face the crucial question: Where have all the children gone?
by Daniel J. Mitchell - 26 September 2017