John A. Parnell, Ph.D.
Hailing a cab in Paris has become quite difficult in recent years, thanks to the alliance between the union and central planners. Paris caps the number of taxi licenses it awards and charges 230,000 Euros for each one. As a result, they are expensive and in short supply. Their drivers also have a reputation for […]
Read MoreThere has been a collective shock recently over the realization that many Americans simply won’t be able to keep their current health insurance plans, at least not as they were. Defenders of the President are attempting to reinterpret his multiple and infamous “if you like your plan you can keep it” appeals. Had Obama conceded […]
Read MoreMainstream media reports have been touting increases in auto sales as evidence that the economy is gaining steam. Indeed, consumer demand for new cars and trucks is widely viewed as a measure of broad confidence in the economy. A major AP story even added, “The government shutdown dampened — but didn’t stall — Americans’ demand […]
Read MoreStarbucks is now a target in China. State-owned CCTV recently complained that a medium-sized latte costs $4.43 in China compared to $3.28 in Chicago, $2.40 in Mumbai, and $3.98 in London. CCTV accused Starbucks of price discrimination. I first learned of the incident on CNN-International while traveling abroad. CNN-I is always willing to jump on […]
Read MoreThe Republicans caved as expected. We’re told they did all they could in the battles against Obamacare and the debt ceiling. If we could only unite again and elect more Republicans… I’m not buying it, at least not at the party level. I expect my representatives to compromise, but not on core principles. Congress is […]
Read MoreAs we move closer to the debt ceiling “deadline,” there are 2 points I would like to make. First, the U.S. WILL NOT NOT DEFAULT if the debt ceiling is not raised UNLESS President Obama chooses to do so. Monthly tax and other revenues are sufficient to cover interest on the debt, as well as Social […]
Read MoreInvestors Business Daily and other publications have chronicled numerous and serious problems associated with the implementation of Obamacare, from huge cost spikes to a long list of companies cutting workers to avoid the impending regulations. The President recently claimed, “There’s no widespread evidence that the Affordable Care Act is hurting jobs.” I don’t know how he […]
Read MoreI just returned from China. Some websites are accessible there based on content and other factors. Battle4Liberty was not. I met two fascinating scholars in Beijing, economist Feng Zingyuan and political scientist Lui Junning. Feng is a professor in the Rural Development Institute at the Academy and one of the top Austrian economists in China. […]
Read MoreIf you just listened to the mainstream media you’d think the U.S. economy was doing quite well. Consider the opening lines from an LA Times article on Friday entitled, ECONOMY ADDS 169,000 JOBS IN AUGUST; UNEMPLOYMENT RATE EASES TO 7.3%: “The economy added 169,000 net new jobs last month and the unemployment rate ticked down to a […]
Read MoreExamples of Washington’s influence on our economy are easy to identify. Because most homeowners have mortgages and people usually finance their cars, industries connected to housing and automobiles are subject to the whims of the Fed. Low interest rates prop up most of these industries by encouraging people to borrow and spend more on houses […]
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