Underestimating Cost of Shutting Coal Plants
by H. Sterling Burnett, Ph.D. Republicans in the Indiana House are attempting to block the plan of Northern Indiana Public Service Company’s (NIPSCO) to prematurely shutter two large coal power plants and replace them largely with renewable energy sources. Republicans on Indiana’s House Utilities Committee passed an amendment to a Senate sewage and water bill Read the full article…
Morris: Primary Elections
by Leo Morris The three major mayoral candidates in my town — the Democratic incumbent and his two chief Republican challengers — are all cheerleaders for “economic development.” These days, that means pushing huge capital projects with too much public funding and too little private risk for the purpose of moving huge numbers of consumers Read the full article…
Schansberg: ‘Varsity Blue’ Scandal
by Eric Schansberg, Ph.D. The university admissions scandal “Operation Varsity Blues” is interesting on many levels: rich people working the system; corruption and bribery in institutions of higher learning; elite, liberal universities sullied by scandal and greed. But as an economist, the episode brings other comparisons to mind. First, consider how the scandal resembles both Read the full article…
McGowan: Socialism, Free Markets and Diversity
by Richard McGowan, Ph.D. A useful way to help students understand economic arrangements is to place the phrases “completely free market” and “perfect command systems” at the end of a line and assign places to countries on the line. A completely free market, a polar end of the continuum, has no regulation governing private property Read the full article…
Progressive Insanity Across the State Line
by Mark Franke “The beatings will continue until morale improves.” We’ve all seen a sign like this posted in workplaces, usually places where the boss is not likely to venture. It is part dark humor and part commentary on the disconnect between the elites and the hoi polloi. But this column is not about management Read the full article…
Morris: Pence and Buttigieg
by Leo Morris Would you like to see a self-professed strongly committed Christian in the White House? Which one? Democratic South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg or Republican Vice President Mike Pence? Both are quite candid about their religious faith, so we may presume it informs their political sensibilities, but the synthesis takes them in very Read the full article…
