Norbert Michel

Norbert Michel, director at Cato's Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives, and Jennifer Schulp, director of financial regulation studies at the Cato Institute, dive into the vital role of financial markets in America's economic growth. They debunk myths surrounding financial markets, emphasizing their key role in capital allocation and risk management. The discussion also touches on the regulatory challenges small businesses face, arguing increased regulation may undermine, rather than enhance, market stability and individual choices.

Norbert Michel, Cato’s Vice President and Director of the Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives, dives into the misconceptions surrounding free trade and its impact on the middle class. He argues that tariffs are based on misunderstandings of data and that free trade has greatly benefited most Americans, contrary to common belief. Michel challenges nostalgic views of the past, unpacks wage stagnation, and emphasizes the economic progress since the 1970s. He encourages a recognition of the advantages of trade agreements for both the U.S. and its partners.

Jennifer Schulp, a financial regulation expert at the Cato Institute, and Norbert Michel, vice president and director of financial alternatives at Cato, dive into the urgent need for Congress to enhance financial privacy and innovation. They discuss a recent executive order benefiting digital assets and its implications for cryptocurrency policy. The pair also advocate for reforming the Bank Secrecy Act, improving Federal Reserve accountability, and the crucial micro-offering exemption, promoting small business growth while addressing the housing crisis with actionable recommendations.