John Greenwood and Steve H. Hanke have written (Wall Street Journal, June 5, 2019) what may be the definitive refutation of Modern Monetary Theory . MMT, the two authors explain, holds that “fiscal deficits don’t matter as long as countries borrow in their own currencies and inflation stays in check.” MMT is currently being promoted […]
Mexican tariff threat hurts diplomacy, lets Dems off hook
Trade correspondent L.C. reports: In one of his biggest trade surprises, President Trump announced on May 30th that he was invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 to impose tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico. The tariffs will increase in monthly 5% steps until Mexico takes unspecified further actions to stem the […]
Commerce proposes a new countervailing duty: currency devaluation
Trade correspondent L.C. writes: In a major new trade policy move, the Commerce Department on May 23rd released a draft proposal to add currency devaluation to its rules on countervailing duties. US law defines a countervailable subsidy as a financial contribution from a government or public entity that is specific and provides a benefit to […]
Nostalgia for obsolete jobs isn’t smart
The populist nationalism promoted by President Trump, Tucker Carlson, Michael Anton, Breitbart and others has many virtues, but welcoming the upgrading of the division of labor through trade and technology is not one of them. Trade and technology are the engines that drive the productivity improvements on which improvement in wages, standard of living, and […]
US capital investment hit by Trump’s trade warring
Trade correspondent L.C. reports: President Trump has liberated the US from President Obama’s regulatory damage to the economy only to replace it with his own no less harmful trade damage. Over a year ago, Founders Broadsheet warned that the administration’s tactics would harm the US, and our concerns are now unfortunately coming to be validated. […]
