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Opinion
What Is Fractional Reserve Banking and Is It Good or Bad?
After the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), I received several questions related to the collapse. One by Dr. Michael…
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Opinion
Are Markets Immoral?
This week for Ask an Economist, I have a question from AJ who asks (edited for clarity), “This isn’t entirely…
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Opinion
Yellen’s Comments Create the Worst of All Possible Worlds for Banking Incentives
It’s been a few weeks since the failure of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB). In my previous article about the bank…
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Opinion
Why Politicians Use Force Rather than Markets
This week I have a question from Sergio from Brazil. He says (edited for clarity), I enjoy reading the articles…
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Opinion
Why We Should Let Bad Banks Fail
By now, you’ve likely heard about regulators closing down Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and now Signature Bank as well. While…
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Opinion
How the Free Market Handles Monopoly
In the president’s recent State of the Union address he called for “bipartisan legislation to strengthen antitrust enforcement.” For those…
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Why C.S. Lewis Thought Healthy Patriotism Curbs Excessive Militarism
Many know professor and theologian C.S. Lewis for his epic fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia. As I wrote in…
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Money & The Economy
Why a Big Tax Refund Shouldn’t Excite You
It’s the dreaded season once again. About this time of year, I usually write something about taxes. What can I…
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Opinion
3 Rules of Rational Parenting Derived from Good Economics
As an economist, one of the most common questions I get is inquiries on which stocks to buy. As I’ve…
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Trending Commentary
Has Capitalism Created a Wasteful Excess of Managers?
Have you noticed there seem to be a lot of managers nowadays? It’s not just you. Professors at the Harvard…
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Opinion
Are Tattoos a Rational Use of Resources?
This week I have a question from Stephen who asks about whether consumers are really rational. Stephen says, “One pillar…
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Opinion
Paul Ehrlich: Wrong on 60 Minutes and for Almost 60 Years
CBS recently featured infamous doomsayer Paul Ehrlich on their long-running show 60 Minutes. In his segment, Ehrlich tries to convince…
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Opinion
Norm Macdonald and the Economics of Comedy
My favorite comedian, Norm Macdonald, died a little over a year ago. Norm was raised in a rural area outside…
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Opinion
Did the Death of “Net Neutrality” Live Up to Doomsday Predictions?
This week for Ask an Economist I’m answering a question sent to me by Lawrence. He asked, “what [has] been…
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Opinion
Why Economics Doesn’t Teach How to Pick Stocks
This week I’m answering an interesting question from Bruce from Fort Lauderdale. Bruce has a finance question. He says: “Let’s…
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