Richard W. Rahn
Articles by Richard W. Rahn
Science and economics trump government mandates with climate change
Many in the political and media classes, showing their ignorance, try to ignore the laws of physics and economics, particularly when it comes to climate change. Published November 25, 2019
Democratic presidential candidates stupid or in denial about wealth tax
Elizabeth Warren and some of the other candidates want to put in a "wealth tax" to pay for their multi-trillion-dollar spending schemes. Published November 18, 2019
Abuse of government control over banks can happen in U.S.
Many believe that the abuse of government control over banks could not happen in the United States. But, in fact, it already happened under the Obama administration. Published November 11, 2019
This wonderful era, and its exceptions
If you could choose to live in any year of the last 2,000, which year would you pick? For every person, some years are better than others; but looking across all of humankind, this year has probably been the best. Published November 4, 2019
Democratic presidential candidates’ proposals weaken Constitution
Many of those running for president are producing a never-ending stream of proposals to diminish protections for person and property and destroy liberty. Published October 28, 2019
Rule of law undermined in the United States
If your favorite sports league had no rules to govern the game and the actions of the teams in the league, how long could it last? Published October 21, 2019
Humor, the most effective weapon in politics
Last week, the Chinese restricted the National Basketball Association (NBA) because a team official praised the Hong Kong fight for liberty, and then they censored an episode of "South Park" because it spoofed the Chinese communist government. Published October 14, 2019
Can the United States avoid a global recession?
Is the world going into a recession? And if so, can the United States avoid being dragged in? Even though there are many who speak with great certainty as if they did know, the short and correct answer to both questions is no one knows. Published October 7, 2019
Hasn’t Ukraine suffered enough?
The International Monetary Fund staff just concluded their mission to Ukraine. Upon reading the report, a colleague, who is a very good economist and student of IMF programs, immediately quipped, "Haven't they suffered enough?" -- with the added statement, "The IMF should steer clear." Published September 30, 2019
The false prophets of climate doom
Every few years, some self-proclaimed prophet comes along with the announcement that the world is going to end on some specific date (usually because of mankind's sins). These religious doomsayer prophets receive less publicity than in times past, only to be replaced by environmental doomsayers. Published September 23, 2019
Freedom still works, as opposed to socialism
Socialism has always been a failure, and each year the world receives more information about the failures and brutality of socialism, but a number of people who appear to be intelligent and sane continue to embrace it. Published September 16, 2019
Untouched by climate change reality
If the government had not spent any tax dollars trying to mitigate climate change during the last 30 years, how much warmer would it have been and how much higher would the sea level be? The correct answer is, no measurable change. Published September 9, 2019
Predicting the next recession
When will the next recession start? No one knows despite the very confident talking heads on TV who speak with great certainty about things they cannot know. Published September 2, 2019
A reality check of The 1619 Project
The New York Times has created what they refer to as The 1619 Project, whose goal "is to reframe American history, making it explicit how slavery is the foundation on which this country is built. Published August 26, 2019
Math-challenged politicians
Who among those now running for president would have been capable of creating the founding documents of the United States? Published August 19, 2019
Democrats mock and deride a slowing economy
It is no coincidence that many of the policy proposals from the Democrats now running for president would virtually guarantee a recession, or worse. Published August 12, 2019
‘Stage II and beyond’
In economics, "Stage II" refers to the consequences of any given action or policy, which only the irresponsible or fools ignore. Published August 5, 2019
The upside-down world of negative interest rates
The latest estimates are that approximately 30 percent of the global government bond issues are now trading in negative territory. Published July 29, 2019
Asset-backed cryptocurrencies protect against abusive and incompetent governments
There is perhaps no more restricting activity by government than the control over defining and issuing of the money. Published July 22, 2019
Private sector can deal with climate-related problems better than the political class
Did you ever see some old stock certificates from more than a half-century ago? Published July 15, 2019