By Oliver McPherson-Smith, American Consumer Institute Wind power has gradually become the leading source of renewable energy in the United States. With strong consumer demand for lower carbon energy and new technology lowering the price of production, wind power now rivals solar and fossil fuels on cost. Despite wind’s success, conflicting federal policies are picking winners and losers […]
Author: Erik Sass
Behavioral science can help fight pandemics
“Using behavioural science to help fight the coronavirus” By ESRI The spread of the coronavirus could be slowed using findings from behavioural science, according to a new ESRI research paper. The conclusion is based on more than 100 scientific research papers reviewed over the past week by the institute’s Behavioural Research Unit. […]
Are central banks planning their own cryptocurrencies?
“Do Central Banks Intend to Launch Central Bank Digital Currencies?” By Gordon Kerr, Cavin O’Driscoll and Enrico Colombatto, courtesy of IREF A substantial and growing amount of press attention has been devoted to the subject of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) since last year’s announcement of Libra which spooked regulators at central banks who are […]
Carbon tax would be disruptive, destructive for Britain
“Why a carbon tax would be bad for Britain” By Sam Packer, courtesy of Taxpayers’ Alliance UK In 2011, Australia introduced the Clean Energy Act to levy additional taxes on carbon emissions. It was repealed just three years later. Since then, British politicians have repeatedly advocated following suit, with 516 references made to the idea […]
Global digital tax proposal is a recipe for decline
“Opinion: Harmful attempts to plan and regulate the global economy” By Prince Michael von Liechtenstein, courtesy of ECAEF Recently, a G20 summit of finance ministers was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main concern of the summiteers was not the condition of the global economy, but two other issues: taxing the digital economy and taming digital […]
Emergency stimulus plan will cost billions
“A response to the Chancellor’s new package of support” By Carl Emmerson, Tom Waters and Xiaowei Xu, courtesy of the Institute of Fiscal Studies The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has today announced a substantial package of support that will incentivise employers to keep hold of their employees over the next few months […]
Germany must ensure liquidity to deal with trade collapse
“Corona crisis – liquidity takes priority” By Prof. Dr. Michael Grömling, Dr. Martin Beznoska, and Dr. Markus Demary, courtesy of IW Koeln In China it became apparent how an epidemic can directly affect the production potential of an economy when large numbers of workers have to be quarantined. Through a variety of intermediate […]
Facing coronavirus, “EU solidarity must be more than an empty slogan”
“Europe under siege” By Fabian Zuleeg and Janis Emmanouilidis, courtesy of EPC The European Union (EU) and its member states have been hit hard by COVID-19 – but the worst is yet to come. Tragically, more people will lose their lives. Now, the highest priority for Europe’s healthcare systems must be to do what […]
Spain faces tough choices for economic stimulus, qualitative reforms needed
“Will economic measures against the coronavirus be effective?” By Hugo Pereira, courtesy of Civismo We are, without a doubt, facing a historic moment. The coronavirus not only infected people, but practically all of the social spheres: politics, the economy, and even our own psychology. We have come to realize that we are not as […]
Freed from regulatory shackles, drug firms step up on COVID-19 testing
“Temporarily Unshackled Private Sector Responds to Demand for More Coronavirus Tests” By Jeffrey Singer, courtesy of the Cato Institute I and others have attributed much of the initially flat‐footed response of public health officials to the coronavirus pandemic to cumbersome, inflexible, and outdated regulations controlling the development and distribution of drugs and tests. As I pointed […]