US not the beacon of freedom you think

Historically, the US has been known as a beacon of freedom. Unfortunately, that reputation has become tarnished over the past ten to fifteen years. I’m referring to economic freedom, not political freedom. Economic freedom means that each person is free to work, produce, consume, and invest as they wish. This involves personal choice, voluntary buying …

Creative destruction

This American retailer has a distinct business model. It aims to sell high volumes of merchandise at low prices. In pursuit of low prices, it bargains hard with its suppliers and grows impressive economies of scale. Its business model draws flocks of customers to its stores. It becomes the largest retailer in the entire world, …

Origin of healthcare problems

US healthcare is generally recognized for its significant innovation and quality medical care. However, it is even more widely recognized for having certain problems. Two main problems are usually cited. Problem #1 is that 10-15% of the population is uninsured at any point in time. Problem #2 is that medical care and health insurance are …

With capitalism, who holds power?

Some people believe that corporations in a capitalist economy wield tremendous power. Hollywood movie plots reinforce this view by depicting corporations as powerful and shadowy entities. Is this accurate? Not really. In the real world, (a) corporations wield far less power than imagined, (b) consumers and employees hold more power than they think, and (c) …

Crony Capitalism ≠ Capitalism

One reason people don’t like capitalism is because they think it is unfair. One reason people think capitalism is unfair is because they believe that crony capitalism is the same as free-market capitalism. It is not. In fact, crony capitalism is closer to the opposite of free-market capitalism. What is crony capitalism? Crony capitalism is …

Government helps the Little Guy?

Some people justify Big Government by claiming that it helps the Little Guy. This romantic view is largely political salesmanship. Big Government is more about helping politicians, government workers, and powerful special interest groups than the Little Guy. Let’s look at how government policies harm the Little Guy. Little Guy realities Before we begin, let’s …

Competition is a Close Shave

Economic freedom is the heart of free-market capitalism. Freedom and competition are significant reasons why capitalism provides greater prosperity. An April 5th Wall Street Journal article (Gillette, in Change, Shaves Prices by Sharon Terlep) provides an opportunity to discuss competition. The article describes Gillette’s situation as follows: “Gillette, which dominates the global razor business, has …