We’re in the midst of a landscaping project. It includes truckloads of a substance called “Beauty Bark.” Paying for this material reminded me of the difference between economic growth and economic progress. This is a happy story — and not only because of our more attractive yard. It demonstrates how ecological improvements flow from better […]

We recently returned from the 2004 general meeting of the Mont Pèlerin Society (MPS). This organization was founded in 1947 by intellectuals committed to resisting tyranny of the left and the right. They built the intellectual analogues to bullets and bombs. Their vision was realized on November 10, 1989, when the Berlin Wall fell. Three […]

I live in the Sourdough Creek watershed, just south of Bozeman. This mix of federal, state, and private lands is highly valued — as a recreation spot for city residents, for its wildlife habitat, and as one of Bozeman’s primary sources of drinking water. The watershed’s forests and soils are a natural filter for the […]

Rather than baling hay and irrigating, Ramona and I have spent this summer planning the Mont Pèlerin Society (MPS) meeting. This organization hosts the world’s premier Classical Liberals. Classical Liberalism does not refer to FDR and the big-government New Deal. It originated in the 19th century, committed to limiting political power and supporting individual rights. […]

We protect the environment because we care about clean air and preserving other species, not mainly for financial reasons. But we also value inexpensive supplies of power and fast and convenient transportation. All interesting and important policy questions involve choosing among competing values. Consider climate change. How does human action influence future climates? How willing […]

In the 1970s I created an institution at MSU, the Center for Political Economy and Natural Resources. Among its programs was one to introduce nationally prominent journalists and editors to environmental economics. We attracted top talents from top publications (e.g. Forbes, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post). When I […]

I like open space and affordable housing. How can we have more of both in the fastest growing county in Montana? The good news is we don’t make all or nothing choices. However, we should remember two rules of public policy: not all good things go together and there are no cost-free solutions. Bozeman’s high […]

The Bush administration has authored a proposal that will, for the first time, give Western governors authority to formally propose development in our wildest public lands. This overturns President Clinton’s decision to set aside 40 million acres of National Forest as roadless areas. Although the initiative was criticized as part of the Clinton administration’s “War […]

The term “entrepreneur” usually invokes images of Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, or Bill Gates. Such individuals mobilize ideas and arrange resources to bring new products to market. They have clearly made huge contributions to our wealth and well-being. They have, in fact, democratized luxury. However, the commercial sector has no monopoly on entrepreneurial talent. Consider […]

Rural communities all over America are shrinking. Consolidation of farms and agribusinesses reduces the number of local jobs. Those residents who remain must bear ever more of the tax base. As individual tax burdens grow, the towns no longer can support their schools, hospitals, and other amenities. As amenities disappear, fewer young people return. The […]