Richard W. Rahn
Articles by Richard W. Rahn
RICHARD RAHN: Ukraine facing bankruptcy
Ukraine will likely go bankrupt within the next few months. This past Friday, it was reported that the country has less than $10 billion in foreign-currency reserves. My sources (who have been spot on the Russian/Ukrainian situation over the last couple of years) tell me the situation is actually worse than the official reports in that Ukraine is now losing foreign reserves at a rate of $3 billion a month and that rate is accelerating. Even worse, some of the reserves may be "illiquid" — which likely means they have already been spent or even stolen. Published December 8, 2014
RICHARD RAHN: Republican Congress to take on tax, spending reforms
Would you make an effort to find ways to reduce your tax burden if your tax rate was suddenly raised 50 percent? The higher one's income, the more incentive a person has to find ways to minimize his tax burden — which is why very high tax rates on the rich always fail to produce the projected revenue. Published December 1, 2014
RICHARD RAHN: Lauren McFerran labor board nomination opens union door to franchise businesses
Whom do you work for? Such a simple question should not require a government agency to give an answer. However, the Obama administration, in its never-ending quest for power over individuals and businesses, has decided that it — rather than you or your employer — should determine whom you work for. Published November 24, 2014
RICHARD W. RAHN: The stupidity of ‘experts’
The only surprising thing about Obamacare architect Jonathan Gruber's revelations that the legislation was based on a series of lies and voter stupidity was that Mr. Gruber was so stupid to think no one would see the videos of him saying so. Published November 17, 2014
RICHARD W. RAHN: Possibilities and predicaments for Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin's clear goal is to re-establish as much of the Russian Empire (1721-1917) as he can. At its greatest extent, the Russian Empire included the territories of the old Soviet Union, most of Eastern Europe, Finland and Alaska (up to 1866). Published November 10, 2014
RICHARD W. RAHN: Reversing the tide of official lawlessness
The basic function of government is the protection of person and property, and the United States is losing ground both in absolute terms and relative to other countries on this basic measure of liberty. Published November 3, 2014
RICHARD W. RAHN: Either liberty or the IRS
After last week's ruling wherein a federal court failed to permanently bar the Internal Revenue Service from targeting conservative groups, there can be no doubt that liberty and the IRS are incompatible. Published October 27, 2014
RICHARD W. RAHN: The optimum income taxation
What is the maximum income-tax rate that anyone should be expected to pay? Published October 20, 2014
RAHN: Why so many are unemployed for so long
If you pay people not to work, what do you think they will do? Published October 13, 2014
RAHN: Taxes, fines and government extortion
When the government "fines" you for not buying health insurance, is it, in fact, a fine, a tax or government extortion? Published October 6, 2014
RAHN: The economics of blueberries, as metaphor
Blueberries are healthier than bread, so why don't people eat more blueberries and less bread? Published September 29, 2014
RAHN: The long-run solution to an economic mess
Yes, the world is a mess — but there is a long-run solution. The solution is a world of modest-size governmental units — like Virginia and Switzerland, with no larger entity to bail them out if they make bad decisions. Published September 22, 2014
RAHN: Winning issues that aren’t just about ‘not Obama’
If you were a campaign manager for Republicans running for the Senate or House in November, what policy positions would you advise them to take? Published September 15, 2014
RAHN: Hong Kong, an aspirational society to emulate
Why is Hong Kong succeeding while New York City is receding? Published September 8, 2014
RAHN: Hong Kong’s miraculous progress
How did this small city-state of 7.3 million people go from having a per-capita income of only a few hundred dollars per year to a per-capita income that is equal to that of the United States in only 50 years? Published September 1, 2014
RAHN: No government austerity, no gain
Do you think government has grown or contracted during the past seven years? If you listen to the political class and many of their lackeys in the news media, you would think there have been massive cuts in government spending. Published August 25, 2014
RAHN: When regulators break their own rules
Do you think people in government are more or less honest than those in the private sector? Published August 18, 2014
RAHN: Switzerland, a country that works
Switzerland is not perfect, but as countries go, it is hard to find one that is much better. Published August 11, 2014
RAHN: When money mischief goes global
Do you want the Obama administration sharing all of your financial information with the Russian, Chinese and Saudi Arabian governments? Published July 28, 2014
RAHN: Government corruption on the rampage
The Obama administration is arguably the most corrupt administration in U.S. history. Published July 21, 2014