“Among economists, price gouging … simply reflects the emotional response non-economists have to rapid price increases,” write Antony Davies, associate professor of economics at Duquesne University and James Harrigan, managing director of the Center for the Philosophy of Freedom at the University of Arizona, in a recent column. “What politicians and other anti-price gouging proponents would have you believe is that we can have what we want, at the price we want, simply by passing a law.”
Laws can’t change the market conditions that drive prices up.
John Hirschauer, too, warns against price controls.
My intrepid Mercatus Center colleague Veronique de Rugy was a guest this morning on CSPAN’s Washington Journal to discuss what government ought – and ought not – to do in response to the COVID-19 epidemic. (I must say that it hurts my head and saddens my soul to listen to many of the people who call in to this program.)
Here’s Scott Gottlieb and Caitlin Rivers on some measures that might be advisable to take to halt the spread of COVID-19. And here on the same is an anonymous author (shared by Tyler Cowen).
Chris Edwards writes informatively and wisely about funding for the NIH and the CDC.
Kevin Williamson rightly bemoans Uncle Sam’s addiction to fiscal recklessness.
Phil Magness reports on the New York Times‘s retraction of the key claim in its now-infamous “1619 Project”. And here’s Randy Barnett’s twitter thread on the same.
