Mises Search

Billionaire Jeff Bezos has become a target of ridicule because his ex-wife MacKenzie Scott has been doling out colossal sums to charity. Compared to Scott, Bezos’s donations are quite slim and many are painting him as stingy . But are critics misguided in how they perceive the utility of philanthropy? Numerous lives have been transformed due to

China’s investment in scientific research and technology intimidates U.S. officials who fear that the former’s emergence as an innovation powerhouse could eclipse America’s dominance as the leader in cutting edge innovations. According to the US National Science Board in a politically charged report, America is trailing China in critical

The assumption that free market reforms have failed to resurrect the economies of developing countries has become orthodoxy in some circles. Critics contend that market approaches are incompatible with the realities in developing countries. Yet despite the assault on market reforms in developing regions, there is insufficient evidence to justify

Commentators worry that the United States might lose its dominance in innovation to Asian countries like China and Singapore. Many policymakers are intimidated by the R&D  budgets of Asian countries and by their superior performance on international academic assessments. However, these concerns are misguided because the United States still

The late Douglas North was correct to assert that institutions are a determinant of long-term economic growth. However, despite his genius in perceiving connections between economics and other fields , North wrote little on culture. Although leading economists are now beginning to take culture seriously, there is still a strong perception that all

Australia’s superb performance on measures of international development has earned her the admiration of many. Few countries can boast such stellar achievements in economic and social affairs. Currently, Australia has the highest median wealth per adult in the world and outperforms the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

The upswing in identity politics has cannibalized the media landscape in a relatively short time because it is fashionable to believe that social ties are built solely on racial and cultural solidarity. Notions of identity have become so ghettoized that non-Mexicans are upbraided for selling Mexican food. But despite the surging popularity of

Attempts by the Chinese government to arrest the spread of Christianity have faltered since Christians are remaining steadfast in their faith. Over one hundred million Chinese are estimated to be Christians, and projections suggest that by 2030 , China could have as many as 247 million Christians. However, instead of affirming the rise of

Industrial policy is earnestly touted by democrats and conservatives as a tool to rejuvenate the US economy . Some argue that innovation will flounder unless the US applies industrial policy to major sectors. The success of East Asian countries is often cited to bolster the case for industrial policy , however, advocates have been selling a

The link between the transatlantic slave trade and industrial growth in Britain is a recurring theme in public discussions. There is a widespread assumption that the profitability of the slave trade requires Britain to compensate the descendants of Africans , since slavery helped to enrich some institutions. It is true that the slave trade made