July-0707
Up one levelNothing Fair About the 'Fairness Doctrine'
When government involves itself in the world of talk radio, the country loses.
Bigger Isn't Always Better
Professional hockey is in the doldrums, and the most logical remedy may be a long time coming...
Government’s Helping Hand also Hurts
The minimum wage increase will hurt our most vulnerable workers.
An Amateur Economist Defends Mainstream Culture
A new book on the evils of digital media is bold, provocative, and economically benighted.
Virtual Reality ‘Avatars’ Are Now Real Enough To Be Sued
Denizens of “Second Life” can end up in very real courtrooms.
Fair Trade with 17th-Century Portugal
A new exhibit shows how the then-powerful empire shaped its world.
In Global Trade, Labor Standards Have a Long History
The Democrats in Congress can help improve working conditions abroad—but only if, ultimately, the free trade deals go through.
A Bout of Moral Ambiguity
Two journalists, in their new book, profile a key figure in the global arms trade.
Sexonomics: From Asymmetric Information to Positive Externalities
Good information about sexual health could lead to better—or at least safer—sex.
Unbought, Unbossed, and Unbelievable—Deep Pockets Aren’t the Problem with Rich Candidates
The substance of their positions—not the source of their money—is the real problem with most self-financed campaigns.
Keeping up with the Gateses?
An economist explains, briefly, why inequality matters more than we think it does.
A Digital Education
The Internet puts you a few clicks away from the best college lectures in America.
Sometimes, Cash Incentives Can Hurt
A new program to reward New York City’s poor for looking after themselves is actually likely to make them more dependent.
Winds of Reform in France
The French Parliament is making big changes, thanks to a philosophical shift at the top.
The Most Important Person You’ve Never Heard Of
Meet Norman Borlaug, savior of the world’s starving.
The Twisted Logic of Stadium Construction
A new minor league ballpark, not yet constructed, is already teaching some basic economics—if anyone pays attention.
Do Powerful Economic Reforms Require Powerful States?
A new anthology says growing government power actually helped Europe reform its welfare states.
How Governments Compete
A new book offers an informative overview of the most important ways governments help, or hurt, their national economies.
Ending Poverty, But Only on Paper
The Millennium Development Goals actually increase rural dependence on knowledge and skills from urban areas—at the expense of community empowerment.
A Bridge to Traffic Reduction
Toll lanes can help give quicker commutes to those who value them most.
A Telling Letter from Russia
A popular neo-Soviet youth movement in Russia presages tough times for the bilateral relationship.