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Glenn Reynolds, writing in USA Today, draws some lessons from Katrina and her ten-year aftermath.

In this new Mercatus Center study, Robert Beekman and Brian Kench explores the economics of export subsidies of the sort doled out by that great geyser of cronyism, the U.S. Export-Import Bank.  A slice:

Against that view [that the Ex-Im Bank adds positive value to the American economy by ‘leveling’ the global trading field], we offer a simple, open-economy trade model to demonstrate that there is, in fact, a deadweight loss in the domestic economy when a government offers an export subsidy. In addition to a loss in economic efficiency, the Ex-Im Bank amounts to a special privilege for the connected few—big subsidies to powerful companies. For example, nearly $8 billion of the $12 billion in Ex-Im Bank loan guarantees in 2013 went to support Boeing exports. In fact, of that $12 billion, 97 percent supported the sales of only 10 firms. While Ex-Im Bank programs may indeed benefit select domestic firms, we will demonstrate that the bank’s overall impact on the US economy is negative.

Tim Carney exposes Hillary Clinton’s penchant for flip-floppery and cronyism.

Randy Holcombe explains that politics obscures the difference between aspirations and policies – and in doing so offers libertarians some political advice.

John Cochrane likes the Wall Street Journal‘s recent exhibit of Phillips Curve Art.

Today is the official release day of the new book edited by Mark Steyn, A Disgrace to the Profession – a book on the sorry academic history of the idea that global temperatures are described accurately by the shape of a hockey stick.  Here’s an in-depth review of the book.  (HT W.E. Heasley)

The Human Freedom Index.

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