Counter Markets

Financial Newsletter for Free Marketeers and Libertarian Entrepreneurs

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Seattle Just Passed a New Tax on Jobs in the Middle of an Economic Crisis—But Exempted Government Workers

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By Brad Polumbo The city of Seattle is already struggling. With a new tax on jobs, its city council seems determined to make things even worse. The COVID-19 pandemic and local government lockdowns economically decimated Washington state in March, with Seattle hit especially hard in the early days of the virus’s spread. In the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 outbreak, … [Read more...] about Seattle Just Passed a New Tax on Jobs in the Middle of an Economic Crisis—But Exempted Government Workers

Entrepreneurship and the Human Experience

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By Ethan Yang Robert Mulligan, in his book Entrepreneurship and the Human Experience, takes on the noble task of contextualizing and humanizing the way we view economics, particularly the essential role of entrepreneurs. The book moves logically through a series of important and complementary topics. Those include a lesson in basic economics, an introductory explanation of … [Read more...] about Entrepreneurship and the Human Experience

Back to School? “No Thanks” Say Millions of New Homeschooling Parents

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By Kerry McDonald Next month marks the beginning of the 2020/2021 academic year in several US states, and pressure is mounting to reopen schools even as the COVID-19 pandemic persists. Florida, for example, is now considered the nation’s No. 1 hot spot for the virus; yet on Monday, the state’s education commissioner issued an executive order mandating that all Florida … [Read more...] about Back to School? “No Thanks” Say Millions of New Homeschooling Parents

The Economy After COVID-19

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By James D. Gwartney One thing is certain: life in America is not going to be the same after COVID-19. Like the Great Depression and World War II, the pandemic will exert an impact for years, perhaps even decades, on the nation’s economic and political fortunes. Some of the changes cannot be predicted. However, we can anticipate some long-term effects. Here are six areas … [Read more...] about The Economy After COVID-19

What Good Comes from this Tragedy?

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By Jeffrey A. Tucker Many millions of people have spent the last four months in sadness and depression. It’s hard to watch the world shattered by the bad behavior of governments – and to see too many among us cheer the destruction – and not feel a sense of despair. And yet the human mind is an incredible thing. If we work at it, we can figure out a good takeaway from … [Read more...] about What Good Comes from this Tragedy?

Why Governments Hate Currency Competition

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By Thorsten Polleit Introduction In this article, I would like to accomplish two goals: First, I want to explain what money is (and what it is not). I will argue that money is the medium of exchange, and that this is the only function of money. Second, I will point out why the size of the money supply does not matter and that the money supply does not have to grow to make an … [Read more...] about Why Governments Hate Currency Competition

Broadway Closed but Porcfest Stayed Open

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By Jeffrey A. Tucker It was the 17th year for the Porcupine Freedom Festival in Lancaster, New Hampshire, held at the Rogers Campground. It was an unusually spirited, emotional, and powerful gathering this time, mostly because it took place in defiance of the fear-based culture that politicians and the media have been spreading for months. Hey, if Woodstock could take place … [Read more...] about Broadway Closed but Porcfest Stayed Open

Surrounded by Government Failure, Why Do People Still Believe?

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By Veronique de Rugy I am always amazed by the faith that people have in government. Scour the newspaper any day of the week and you will read stories detailing the many failures of the federal, state, and local governments or agencies, and of their stupendous ability to commit the same mistakes over and over again. Yet these agencies are the one that people turn to in times … [Read more...] about Surrounded by Government Failure, Why Do People Still Believe?

21 Nonconformity Quotes to Help You Resist the Crowd

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By Jon Miltimore The author Dorothy Sayers (1893-1957) once observed that one of the downsides of the modern age is that humans are ill-equipped to resist an endless onslaught of messaging (the “incessant battery of words, words, words.”) Literacy had expanded but the tools of reason, logic, and deduction were being lost even as humans were being exposed to mass media and … [Read more...] about 21 Nonconformity Quotes to Help You Resist the Crowd

5 Things I Learned Debating the Harvard Prof Who Called for a “Presumptive Ban” on Homeschooling

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By Kerry McDonald On Monday, I debated the Harvard professor who proposes a “presumptive ban” on homeschooling. Thousands of viewers tuned in to watch the live, online discussion hosted by the Cato Institute. With 1,000 submitted audience questions, the 90-minute webinar only scratched the surface of the issue about who is presumed to know what is best for children: parents … [Read more...] about 5 Things I Learned Debating the Harvard Prof Who Called for a “Presumptive Ban” on Homeschooling

One Weird Sign of Trouble in the Banking Sector

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By Simon Black, Sovereign Man It was only a few generations ago that most people spent their entire lives within a few miles of where they were born. They grew up, lived, worked, and retired, all in the same place. And that was normal. Travel and relocation didn’t really become commonplace until after World War II. But even then, the most common reason people moved was … [Read more...] about One Weird Sign of Trouble in the Banking Sector