By Charles Blain From the start of the COVID 19 outbreak in the United States, state and local governments responded in various ways from issuing emergency orders—citywide shutdowns to school closures and beyond—but it’s the suspension of various laws and regulations that is exposing the unnecessary regulatory web that burdens businesses. As often happens during … [Read more...] about A Litany of Useless Laws Have Been Exposed By the Coronavirus
Regulations
Government: Taking the Freedom Out of Freelancing
By Allison Schrager As I headed to LAX after a recent trip to Los Angeles, my Lyft driver insisted that we stop at In-N-Out Burger so that I could enjoy one last California experience. We ate the burgers outside, as planes flew above us. My driver, a professional photographer, works for Lyft to supplement his irregular income. His story is common. Most drivers that I’ve … [Read more...] about Government: Taking the Freedom Out of Freelancing
The Adverse Impact of Government Bureaucracy on Private Employment
By Daniel J. Mitchell When I did this video about public-sector compensation almost 10 years ago, I focused on why it is unfair that bureaucrats get much higher levels of compensation than people working the private sector. Today, let’s consider the economic consequences of excessive bureaucracy. And what will make this column particularly interesting is that I’ll … [Read more...] about The Adverse Impact of Government Bureaucracy on Private Employment
Unnecessary Evil: How Government Regulations Kill Crypto Startups and Encourage Crime
By Graham Smith Thanks to the EU’s most recent money laundering directive, a small business called Post-a-coin, which sold cute postcards pre-loaded with tiny amounts of bitcoin, is being forced to shut down. Meanwhile, the most heinous criminals in history are continuing to facilitate violence, trafficking and laundering of cash with impunity. Also Read: Why the Counter … [Read more...] about Unnecessary Evil: How Government Regulations Kill Crypto Startups and Encourage Crime
Why the Counter Economy Is Necessary to Bitcoin’s Survival as a Disruptive Currency
By Graham Smith As Bitcoin is adopted by more and more traditional financial institutions, and becomes regulated by governments worldwide, the question of its survival as a truly disruptive alternative to legacy financial systems is raised. After all, if governments like Qatar’s can ban it, and international banking laws like AMLD5 can push bitcoin-friendly companies out of … [Read more...] about Why the Counter Economy Is Necessary to Bitcoin’s Survival as a Disruptive Currency
“We” Should Not Regulate Homeschooling
By Kerry McDonald The desire to control other people’s ideas and behaviors, particularly when they challenge widely-held beliefs and customs, is one of human nature’s most nefarious tendencies. Socrates was sentenced to death for stepping out of line; Galileo almost was. But such extreme examples are outnumbered by the many more common, pernicious acts of trying to control … [Read more...] about “We” Should Not Regulate Homeschooling
Unsung Heroes: Private Food Inspectors
By Robert E. Wright It’s my 51st and I am happy to say that I have not died, even once, of food poisoning or other food-related illnesses. I can safely assert the same of anyone reading this, despite recent government shutdowns that disrupted food safety inspections. Many people believe we need government inspectors to keep the food supply safe, but they are full of it, and … [Read more...] about Unsung Heroes: Private Food Inspectors
California’s War on Gig Work Falls Hardest on Women
By Ben Johnson This year, California’s progressives decided to wage war on the nightmare of being your own boss. A new state law aimed at limiting the gig economy has already cost hundreds of people their jobs—and had a seriously harmful impact on women’s earnings and long-term happiness. Assembly Bill 5 curbs the ability of companies like Uber and Lyft to classify their … [Read more...] about California’s War on Gig Work Falls Hardest on Women
US Government Worried Crypto Can Shift Power to Private Sector
By Kevin Helms Cryptocurrency is one of the top issues for the U.S. Treasury. Particularly, the Treasury is worried decentralized cryptocurrencies can shift some functions away from the government to the private sector and raise the issue of self-government, according to Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Justin Muzinich. Also read: US to Strictly Enforce Crypto Rules … [Read more...] about US Government Worried Crypto Can Shift Power to Private Sector
Actually, We Could Just Flip the Switch
By Robert E. Wright Our good friends at the Mercatus Center recently published another report on America’s morbidly obese regulatory code, which still contains over 100 million words despite President Trump’s attempt to “drain the swamp” with his Executive Order 13771. The report correctly points out that “regulatory accumulation,” as the authors call it (a malady … [Read more...] about Actually, We Could Just Flip the Switch
The Economics and Politics of Zoning
By Ash Navabi Both economic decisions and political decisions involve choices and tradeoffs. The difference is that economic decisions are ultimately informed and rely upon monetary prices, revenues and costs. Political decisions, meanwhile, do not depend on market outcomes—they can be based on love, legacy, favors, or establishing power relations. Zoning is the practice … [Read more...] about The Economics and Politics of Zoning
Proposed Federal Vaping Ban Is Bigger Than Vaping
By John Michaels The Trump administration is aggressively pushing an unconstitutional ban on all flavored vape products after reports that over 1,000 people have become ill and roughly two-dozen people have died, supposedly from “vaping.” Vaping has been called an “epidemic” even though vaping has been around for over 10 years with no prior reports of anything like this … [Read more...] about Proposed Federal Vaping Ban Is Bigger Than Vaping