Richard W. Rahn
Articles by Richard W. Rahn
Offsetting the misery of the U.S. government’s spending disaster
The persistent myth is that government spending increases economic growth when, in fact, it slows growth beyond a certain point. Published January 18, 2021
‘You are not allowed to read this’
Do you have freedom of speech if you have no means of distributing your ideas to large numbers of others? Published January 11, 2021
Gauging the return of inflation in a post-pandemic America
Will inflation in the U.S. return in a big way? Inflation is a rise in the average price level, caused by an increase in the supply and/or velocity of money. Published January 4, 2021
When will the COVID-19 pandemic be over?
The pandemic will be over when the U.S. reaches herd immunity. Herd immunity is the level of individual immunity where the spread of the disease from person to person becomes unlikely, and results in the whole community becoming protected, even those who are not immune. Published December 28, 2020
2020 has been horrible, but it could have been worse
Approximately one-tenth of 1% of the population of the U.S. has died as a result of the COVID-19 virus -- which is a great tragedy -- but by historical standards it is barely measurable. Published December 21, 2020
How America’s ‘useful idiots’ allow China to ignore environmental and human rights reform
Two decades ago, most economists -- including me -- believed that as a country became richer it would likely become more democratic and more protective of basic human rights and liberty. Published December 14, 2020
Remembering the remarkable Walter E. Williams
Four decades ago, I had an extraordinary piece of good luck -- I became friends with the great Walter E. Williams, who passed away last week at age 84. Published December 7, 2020
High taxes on the rich never produce promised revenue
Elon Musk has just passed Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg to become the second-richest man after Jeff Bezos -- all of whom are worth more than $100 billion. Published November 30, 2020
Let the COVID-19 vaccine wars begin
Scientists have done what was thought to be impossible and that is to produce COVID-19 vaccines in a matter of months. But now the real battles begin. Published November 23, 2020
Calls for shutdowns to stop COVID-19 are unwarranted and foolish
Some of presumptive President-elect Joe Biden's advisers have advocated a new and even more extreme shutdown of the country to allegedly stop the COVID-19 virus. Published November 16, 2020
Why polling is not rocket science
If you were pro-Trump and had been told for the last several years by the mainstream media that Trump supporters are stupid, racist, bigoted, homophobes, etc. when poll-takers asked for your opinion, are you going to tell them the truth? Published November 9, 2020
Some good news: Fake news outlets will continue to lose audiences after election
When this commentary is published, we will not yet know who won the presidential race. Rather than add to the stress, here is some good news to make your life a bit happier. Published November 2, 2020
Incompetence and ignorance run rampant through news organizations
We all have our biases, but there is difference between serving as a "flack" (aka PR agent) for a political campaign, organization, or a cause and holding oneself out as an objective truth seeking "journalist." Published October 26, 2020
Which candidate do the Chinese and Russians want to win the U.S. presidential election?
President Trump has caused the Chinese immense difficulty. He was the first American president to call them out for their unfair trade practices, theft of intellectual property and military expansionism. Published October 19, 2020
Biden presidency bad for media business and America
Most of the mainstream media, by being so far in the tank for Joe Biden, have now put themselves in the position that if he is elected and fails, they are going to suffer even lower reputations. Published October 12, 2020
Protecting Trump from COVID-19 and other threats
Whose responsibility was it to make sure that the president did not catch the COVID-19 virus? Published October 5, 2020
Follow the rioters’ money trail to stop the chaos
A number of major American companies and rich individuals have funded Black Lives Matter and groups affiliated with them. Some of this money has almost certainly been laundered to fund the violent activities of some of the rioters. Published September 28, 2020
Senators must stop anti-Trump foolishness and confirm Judy Shelton’s Fed nomination
I have known Mrs. Shelton since the 1980s, and know the quality of her work, her knowledge, courage and temperament. She is exactly what the Fed needs at this time. Published September 21, 2020
Worldwide economic freedom threatened by rise of socialism in U.S.
The good news is that through 2018 the world had slowly become more economically free. The bad news is that the enemies of freedom are making a comeback. Published September 14, 2020
What do we really know about COVID-19?
Bad data cause bad conclusions which cause bad decisions. The medical, political and media classes have much to be embarrassed about when it comes to their statements about COVID-19. Published September 7, 2020
