Tag Archives: political economy

Pareto Is The Enemy Of Central Planning

Posted on January 25, 2026 by john

Dear Friends, It seems to me, once one accepts that Pareto was right, then the question shifts from how to get rid of poverty to what’s the best way to distribute wealth? If poverty can’t be eliminated, then we should … Continue reading →

Posted in economy | Tagged Capitalism vs Socialism, central planning, economic freedom, economic growth, economic history, economic incentives, Economic Philosophy, economic systems, economics, Free Market Theory, free markets, french revolution, government intervention, Income Inequality, individual liberty, Karl Marx, Market Economics, Pareto principle, political economy, populism vs elitism, poverty, prosperity, self-interest, socialism, soviet union, Venezuela, wealth creation, Wealth Distribution, Wealth Inequality | Leave a comment

Canada And The Central Planning Trap

Posted on January 9, 2026 by john

Dear Friends, It seems to me, Canada is on the path to Venezuela. Venezuela was the richest country in South America after the oil boom. Once the communists gained power it went from the richest to the poorest. Not because … Continue reading →

Posted in business, economy, Group Politics, Law | Tagged authoritarianism, Canada, category error, central planning, comparative economics, complex systems, corruption, despotism, economic complexity, economic systems, freedom, government overreach, incentives, institutional failure, markets, political economy, public policy, socialism, state power, Venezuela | Leave a comment

Government Accountability

Posted on December 3, 2025 by john

Dear Friends, It seems to me, if an accountant messes up your taxes, a plumber ruins your plumbing, or an electrician shorts out your wiring, they are accountable to repair it… a government should be just as accountable for its … Continue reading →

Posted in economy, International Power, Judicial Sysytem, Law, media, Mercy, philosophy | Tagged abuse of power, accountability vs immunity, authoritarian incentives, bureaucratic failure, civil liberties, corruption vs virtue, economic freedom, economic incentives, electoral politics, ethics in government, governance reform, government accountability, government failure, incentives, institutional corruption, justice system, moral hazard, policy consequences, political corruption, political economy, political ethics, political incentives, power, public choice theory, public policy, regulatory failure, rent control, rule of law, state power | Leave a comment

Economics and Appeal To Authority

Posted on September 19, 2025 by john

Dear Friends, It seems to me, what if the economy is in recession and the elite claim it’s not? The media will report all is well and the politicians will feel comfortable in their ivory tower, but the people will … Continue reading →

Posted in business, economy, media, philosophy | Tagged accountability, administrative state, bureaucracy, central planners, corruption, economy, elites, government, inflation, jobs, lies, media, political economy, public policy, recession, skepticism, unemployment, Wall Street | Leave a comment

War On Workers

Posted on August 22, 2025 by john

Dear Friends, It seems to me, regulators are waging war on workers. With the perfect paradigm of perverse incentives… in the name of protecting the worker, the environment, and the public. Regulators have made hiring Americans unprofitable. That’s why so … Continue reading →

Posted in business, economy, Law, Mercy, philosophy, Societal Myth | Tagged anti-establishment, compliance costs, deflation vs inflation, deregulation, economic nationalism, elite theory, Federal Reserve policy, federalist papers, H1-B visas, illegal immigration, immigration policy, institutional analysis, labor economics, madison, perverse incentives, political economy, political philosophy, Producer Price Index, regulatory capture, regulatory reform, Roman Republic parallels, systems theory, Thrasymachus, Trump administration policies, tyranny through complexity, unintended consequences, wage competition, worker displacement | Leave a comment

Perfect Competition

Posted on July 6, 2025 by john

Dear Friends, It seems to me, no company on Earth wants perfect competition in its own industry, but every company seeks perfect competition in the job market. Why? It’s self-serving. Companies want cheap labor and expensive products. That paradigm allows … Continue reading →

Posted in business, economy, Group Politics, Law, media, philosophy | Tagged American worker, barriers to entry, collective action, corporate lobbying, corporate-government collusion, crony capitalism, economic theory, executive bonuses, free markets, globalization, H1B visa, immigration policy, labor market, outsourcing, perfect competition, political economy, regulatory capture, wage disparity, wage suppression, wells fargo | Leave a comment