In a new paper, my Mercatus Center colleague Dan Griswold busts several myths about American workers, globalization, and automation. Here’s the abstract:
It is often asserted that, for most American workers, real wages and incomes have been “stagnant” for decades, but evidence shows that the large majority of US workers are better off today than in past decades. Increased trade, globalization, and technological innovation have helped to raise wages and incomes. US economic policy should not aim to regulate or slow a dynamic labor market, but instead to help the minority of American workers who have been displaced or more permanently disconnected from the labor force. Policy initiatives should focus on upgrading the skills of US workers, promoting mobility, eliminating government-created barriers to employment and disincentives to work, reducing addiction and unnecessary incarcerations, and other policy reforms—with the goal of equipping US workers to thrive in a more open and technologically advanced economy.
Also busting myths about American workers is James Pethokoukis.
Terence Kealey busts some myths about government’s role in promoting economic growth.
My Mercatus Center colleague Michael Farren busts some myths peddled by Trump.
Jeffrey Tucker celebrates the creativity behind TikTok.
Deirdre McCloskey makes the case against government-created intellectual properties.
