Health

Senate Finance Drug Pricing Framework Risks Similar Pitfalls of Price-Setting H.R. 3

  By Andrew Lautz, National Taxpayers Union   Last month, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) released a “Principles for Drug Pricing Reform” document that outlines how the Senator, who chairs one of the most powerful committees in Congress, would like to address prescription drug costs this year. While the document is sparse on details, […]

Competition & Regulation Top Page Links

FTC Decision Makes Consumers the Big Losers

      By Steve Pociask, American Consumer Institute   To retitle the familiar song by Prince, it now appears the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is going to “party like it’s 1914.” The well-known consumer welfare standard – the principle that has focused antitrust enforcement onto whether consumers are harmed – is getting shelved by the […]

Tax & Finance Top Page Links

AEC Announces Austrian Economics Conference in Vienna

  By The Austrian Economics Center   The 10th AEC International Conference, “The Austrian School of Economics in the 21st Century” will be held live in Vienna, Austria on November 4 and 5, 2021.    Offered by the Austrian Economic Center (AEC) and Foundacion Internacional Bases, the event will not be online or zoom, but a […]

Competition & Regulation

Why the EU’s Latest Industrial Strategy Falls Short

      By Ryan Nabil, Competitive Enterprise Institute   Can the European Union become a world leader in innovation? Yes, but Brussels needs to create a more business-friendly environment for businesses and start-ups.   The EU is trying to become self-sufficient in sectors such as pharmaceuticals and semiconductors and spearhead post-Covid economic recovery, according […]

Competition & Regulation

Public Spending Will Not Lower Broadband Prices

      By Caroline Wang, American Consumer Institute   President Biden has focused his efforts on making broadband internet access more affordable to Americans. It is a part of the American Jobs Plan he announced late March, a wide-ranging stimulus plan that forms a key component of the Administration’s post-Covid recovery efforts. The plan, […]

Geopolicy

The Most Critical Metal You’ve Never Heard of

    By Larry Reaugh, American Manganese Inc.    Rare Earths Elements (REEs) may grab most of the headlines when the topic is critical minerals, but 21st Century technology is hungry for far more than REEs; take the lithium-ion batteries that literally drive our Electric Vehicles, which require not only the lithium that gives them their […]

Society

Basic Income: High Praise but Poor Results

    By Kerry Jackson, Pacific Research Institute   Handing out taxpayer dollars in the form of basic incomes is the latest policy rage. The Los Angeles Times reports there’s “a growing enthusiasm for basic income programs.” Vox says “guaranteed income is graduating from charity to public policy.” At KQED, they’re giving Oaklanders tips on […]

Tech

Washington’s War on Big Tech Continues

  By Edward Longe, American Consumer Institute   In an era of deep political divisions, no issue unifies Republicans and Democrats quite like punishing big tech. In the last twelve months, Senate Democrats and Republicans have released their own punitive proposals to reform America’s antitrust law. Additionally, Democrats in the House of Representatives just published […]

Competition & Regulation

House Democrats Take Aim At Consumer Convenience With Misguided Antitrust Proposal

  By Will Yepez, National Taxpayers Union     House Democrats are planning to introduce five pieces of antitrust legislation in the coming days. One such proposal is a radical “Glass-Steagall” style legislation aimed at forcing structural separation policies that would harm consumers and disrupt the economy. Contrary to its mission, the proposed legislation would have […]

Society

Washington Beyond the Headlines: Gunning for the 2nd Amendment

    By Andy Blom, TES Washington Editor   Our Vice President deals with immigration by flying over the border…but she still hasn’t visited Europe. The Senate is at a standstill, gas prices are rising and inflation is starting to show its ugly head. Welcome to summer 2021. But have hope…free market thinkers and doers […]