Capitolism
Every Wednesday, Scott Lincicome deciphers and explains how otherwise incomprehensible economic policies affect everyday Americans.
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Getting the ‘China Shock’ Right
The political narrative has eclipsed the actual economics, and that’s a policy problem today.
California’s New ‘Fast Food’ Wage Law Will Probably End Badly. We Just Don’t Know How.
Recent calamities in Seattle, Minneapolis, and D.C. provide some clues.
YIMBYs Are Winning Local Housing Battles, but Can They Win the National Housing War?
Building more housing—even luxury housing—lowers prices for everyone.
I Make Great Hot Sauce. State Regulations Ensure You’ll Never Taste It.
‘Cottage food’ restrictions mean less choice and less entrepreneurship for no good reason.
Trivial Pursuits
Do we need ‘consumer protection’ policies on burger prices and bags of potato chips?
Remote Work Is Here to Stay, Mostly for the Better
It’s great for working parents, people with disabilities, and anyone who likes more flexibility at work.
Collateral Damage in the War on ‘Gig Work’
A new Department of Labor rule regarding independent contractors is likely to hurt overall employment.
Blame Bad Law for Biden’s Bad LNG Pause
A notoriously vague delegation of congressional authority lets the president play politics with global energy security.
Industrial Policy’s Corruption Problem Is Hiding in Plane Sight
Boeing’s troubles reveal another risk of government support for ‘national champions’
Some of My Big 2024 Questions
Will we avoid a recession? Will China’s recovery continue to fizzle? Is this the year for AI? And more.
Japanic! at the Steelco
U.S. Steel gives American protectionists just what they wanted … good and hard.