In a previous article—” Denmark: Potemkin Village “—I documented the downside to Denmark. Despite its reputation as a showcase of political utopia, 40 percent of its adult population live on government transfer income, full-time, all-year. A little more than a third of these people are pensioners and the rest are working age. About one third of
Stephen Downs was arrested wearing a “Peace on Earth, Give Peace a Chance” T-shirt while walking with his son at Crossgates Mall near Albany, New York. Security guards approached the two men and instructed them to remove their shirts, which were made at the mall. The 31-year-old son complied with the order but the 61-year-old father did not. The
Producers constantly strive to create that new style they hope will spark a demand all its own, a fashion worthy of the consumers’ vote, thus being victorious in the next market election. Abercrombie and Fitch has been that triumphant candidate in recent years, setting fads that have stormed the market. The latest news surrounding the clothing
Police departments around the nation have begun utilizing high-tech video surveillance in their fight against crime, as the private sector has for many years. Officials in New Orleans recently announced that by October the city plans to have installed 100 of these surveillance cameras within its limits. The plan, which will eventually see the
Photographers characterized by dynamic and often times aggressive tactics used in efforts to get that “million-dollar-shot” or “cover-photo” of celebrities, have established, for themselves, their own division of the media profession. Labeled as “paparazzi,” in honor of Signor Paparazzo, a character in a film by Federico Fellini, these freelancers
The Mises Institute’s October 24–25, 2003 Supporters’ Summit dealt with the topics “War, Prosperity and Depression.” The title was apt, considering that the United States still suffers from a financial hangover courtesy of a Federal Reserve-induced stock bubble that burst in 2000. At the same time, Americans have been compelled to bankroll the
Just as Bush’s open-ended war on terror provides ample illustrations of a politician paying off electoral debts, his administration’s aggressive trade policies smack of blatant favoritism. Indeed, steel, lumber, textile, and agricultural lobbies all rejoice at Mr. Bush’s penchant for protectionism and subsidies as much as the military-industrial
Statists—those who advocate concentration of economic power in centralized government—salivate like Pavlov’s dogs at the mention of economic difficulties, real or imagined. Statists of a left-liberal bent are usually louder than their counterparts on the right. Nevertheless, when the economic difficulty “bell” rings, all begin repeating the mantra
Thirty-six years as an economics professor has left my office walls lined with overflowing bookshelves. Included on my shelves are the 1974, 1978, 1981, and 1985 membership directories for the American Economic Association (AEA). Dated membership directories, even for flagship organizations like this one, figure to be irrelevant. Not in this case,
Corporate Social Responsibility is the new field that has united a variety of campaigning groups, including environmentalists, poverty campaigners, third world charities, and unions in a collective call for business to support their agenda. More unusual, it even has prominent supporters within the business community. Charitable giving by business
What is the Mises Institute?
The Mises Institute is a non-profit organization that exists to promote teaching and research in the Austrian School of economics, individual freedom, honest history, and international peace, in the tradition of Ludwig von Mises and Murray N. Rothbard.
Non-political, non-partisan, and non-PC, we advocate a radical shift in the intellectual climate, away from statism and toward a private property order. We believe that our foundational ideas are of permanent value, and oppose all efforts at compromise, sellout, and amalgamation of these ideas with fashionable political, cultural, and social doctrines inimical to their spirit.