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.
Our demographic crisis is actually a policy crisis
The much talked about demographic crisis in the Western world is real. Just look at the fertility rates in Europe. But the bigger problem is not so much that we are having too few babies as that our bloated state oriented system needs radical reform
- 19 July 2017
Two concepts of liberty: Real liberty and socialist liberty
There is a longstanding debate about two concepts of liberty, positive or negative. Positive liberty essentially means that you, or the state, has a right to deprive some people of their property to provide other people with services. But, while many might argue there are good reasons for doing it, this is a false concept of liberty, and we must be clear in saying so
- 6 July 2017
The endless failure (but bizarre allure) of socialism
The pattern is clear, and has been evident for many decades. Socialism is tried. Socialism fails. Socialists claim real socialism was never tried in the first place. The lesson here is that socialists are inaccesible to reason
- 23 June 2017
For prosperity? Against inequality? Choose capitalism
The historical data represents a crushing blow to the Left. It shows that capitalism has not only raised prosperity for all wherever it has been allowed to flourish, but that it has also cut inequality between the various regions of the world
- 21 May 2017
Tories must use victory to revolutionise UK economy
While mad Jeremy Corbyn appears to advocate an Anglo-Saxon version of North Korea, Theresa May needs to use the thumping majority she is likely to get at the election to reduce the state and reinvigorate free market values and practices. A Tory victory is a necessary but not sufficient condition for UK economic success
- 17 May 2017
Four key lessons from Ronald Reagan's tax cuts
From the New York Times to Donald Trump, everyone needs to learn 4 key lessons from Ronald Reagan's tax cuts, which all boil down to this: an economically less instrusive state will boost growth and raise prosperity
- 3 May 2017
Why Trump's good tax plan is not serious enough
Slashing the corporate tax rate is a great idea, and Trump's heart is in the right place on tax generally. But if he really wanted a big tax cut, he would have a comprehensive plan to restrain the growth of government spending. He doesn’t. He needs to get more serious
- 27 April 2017
Whoever wins French elections, France is in decline
Among the major countries on the continent, France is the economic sick man of Europe. Le Pen is considered on the right solely because of her immigration policies. Economically, she's is very much on the Left. France shows how bad things get when the state snowballs out of control. The election will likely change nothing
- 22 April 2017
Laughing at socialism in theory and practice
No country has ever become wealthy due to big government, let alone full on statism. But socialist ideologues never give up, despite how ridiculous they make themselves look. The bottom line is that statism is a recipe for stagnation and free markets are a route to prosperity
- 13 April 2017
Venezuela, Cuba, N. Korea, and circles of statist hell
Venezuela is spiralling into the fires of hell. Cuba and North Korea have been there for a long time. Lessons from the former Soviet bloc show the path to freedom and prosperity is paved with effective property rights, low taxes, and free markets
- 6 April 2017
Reagan's lessons for Trump
Ronald Reagan adopted a bunch of supposedly unpopular policies, yet he got reelected in a landslide because reducing the burden of government allowed the private sector to grow much faster. Will Trump’s reforms be that bold and that brave? Reagan is the example he must emulate to succeed
- 1 April 2017
Will Trump drain the swamp or wallow in it?
Corruption in Washington is a huge issue that people do not take seriously enough. President Trump's supporters demand that he make good on his promise to drain the swamp. But what if he just wallows in it and gargles the muck instead?
- 22 February 2017
America's diminishing economic liberty
The United States comes in at an unspectacular number 17 in this year's global economic freedom index. America dropped to its lowest ever position under Obama. The big question now is whether it will go up or even further down under the entirely unpredictable Trump administration
- 16 February 2017
Obama's dismal but forgettable legacy
Obama's legacy is dismal. What he did wrong was mainly unoriginal; what he did right was trivial. He was a president consumed with himself. His legacy is entirely forgettable
- 17 January 2017
Workers of the world do best in free markets
If you want the best for workers, the evidence shows that unregulated markets make them better off, less likely to face discrimination, and happier overall. The Left opposes free markets because they can't control them, regardless of the benefits for those they claim to speak for
- 5 January 2017
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