Category: Milton Friedman

Would a Higher Earned Income Tax Credit Help the Poor?

Commentary The California Legislature is considering expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a type of negative income tax. If you earn below a certain level of income, instead of paying income tax, you get a cash check or deposit to your bank account. CalMatters reported: “Democratic Assemblymembers Mike Gipson of Gardena and Miguel Santiago of Los Angeles recently…


The Long-Term Negative Effects of ESG Will Be Catastrophic

Commentary Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) has been a hotly debated topic over the last few years. The seemingly unquestioned march towards corporate utopia has met with resistance among those who oppose the idea that government oligarchs should dictate the affairs of private business firms. The long-term effects of the ESG movement are largely ignored by…


John Robson: Some Tough Questions on Inflation for Tiff Macklem

Commentary According to Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem, inflation is bad. And while no sum is too great to pay for such insights (in this case somewhere north of a third of a mill, plus benefits), when he says “Look, inflation’s too high and frankly Canadians should be asking us some tough questions” I…


Be a Reader, Not a Believer

Commentary  This Op Ed has been inspired by two comments on my previous (too long, and unfinished) Op Ed on inflation (“This Ain’t Your Daddy’s Inflation”). In it I criticized Milton Friedman, and this elicited these reactions from two readers: “Conservative that I am, I’ve always been a fond believer in Milton Friedman,” wrote MissStofeles….


A Budget That Voters Want? We’ll Find Out

The most striking feature of Tuesday’s 2022-23 federal budget is how well the Australian economy is performing. Whereas two years ago we were facing a catastrophe, the outlook now is rosy and enviable. We have passed out of the pandemic storm into calm waters very quickly. The unemployment rate is heading below four percent—its lowest…


We Need a Little More Milton Friedman Right About Now

Commentary Not long ago, President Joe Biden made an offhanded comment that “Milton Friedman isn’t running the show anymore.” This president has seldom spoken more valid words. And that’s where the trouble has begun. If you were to rate the three most influential economic minds of all time, you’d be hard-pressed to come up with…