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Glenn Reynolds, writing in USA Today, draws some lessons from Katrina and her ten-year aftermath [2].

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 [3].  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 [4].

Randy Holcombe explains that politics obscures the difference between aspirations and policies – and in doing so offers libertarians some political advice [5].

John Cochrane likes the Wall Street Journal‘s recent exhibit of Phillips Curve Art [6].

Today is the official release day of the new book edited by Mark Steyn, A Disgrace to the Profession [7] – 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 [8].  (HT W.E. Heasley)

The Human Freedom Index [9].

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