Many folks believe the government should provide insurance against natural disasters. Congress recently voted to extend the National Flood Insurance Program for another four years. The NFIP was established in 1968 to provided “affordable” insurance to people living in the most flood-prone areas. (In the West, federal flood insurance has primarily taken the form of […]
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For approximately 150 years Sears, Roebuck & Company was a retail giant. It made a fortune by selling quality products at low prices to middle- and lower-class Americans. Its innovative business strategies effectively drove its chief competitor, Montgomery Ward, from the market. The famous Sears catalog, for the first time, provided rural Americans access to […]
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Early in my career I had the immense good fortune to work with Garrett Hardin, a distinguished ecologist. He was an extraordinarily fine and brave gentleman and scholar. Garrett was also sufficiently honest to admit his occasional errors and modify his analysis accordingly. Together, we produced a book that remained in print for nearly 20 […]
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For over two centuries economists have agreed that free trade is mutually beneficial. They argue countries should specialize in what they do best — and buy the rest. They explain why the usual alternatives, protectionism and trade barriers, ultimately destroy wealth or frustrate its creation. Princeton economist Paul Krugman, a high priest of the anyone-but-Bush […]
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Public school funding challenges communities across the nation. My hometown of Bozeman, Montana, is no exception. Our community highly values education and understands good schools are a key ingredient for social and economic progress. Like many others, our school board is deciding how to trim its budget in reaction to reduced state funding. The school […]
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I recently read a book by a biologist who doesn’t apply the evolutionary theory she no doubt knows well. Barbara Ehrenreich’s Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America is her compelling picture of American workers (especially single moms) trying to make ends meet in minimum wage jobs. Our empathy with and sympathy for […]
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We can learn much from observing the Democratic primary debates. Politicians are rarely rewarded for taking principled positions. Their incentives encourage constituent pandering. Once elected, they use their office to transfer opportunities and benefits that increase the odds of reelection. It works. According to opensecrets.org, in 2002 98 percent of House incumbents were reelected, as […]
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Globalization has rapidly improved the social and economic status of women in the developing world. The explanation is straightforward: In a competitive, globalized world, the role of women becomes ever more valuable. Cultures that exclude women from full participation (e.g., Saudi Arabia) fall ever further behind. Societies that embrace education for women enjoy dramatic social […]
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I recently had the pleasure of talking with two senior high school government classes. We explored the use of language and the nuances beyond words such as “conservative” and “progressive.” I urged them to think in terms of causal relationships, not the slogans so common in today’s political discourse. Here’s an example. Critics of markets […]
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Protesters were drawn to Miami last week as negotiators worked on the Free Trade Area of the Americas pact. One of the protestors’ concerns is that free trade is creating a “race to the bottom” in which developing countries lower their environmental standards to attract international business. But their fears are misplaced. Here’s why. At […]
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