Free The Economy

This week we talk about recycled Legos, socially responsible pension funds, pessimistic views about politics, and a special immigration visa for microchip experts. Our interview this week is with Competitive Enterprise Institute Vice President for Strategy Iain Murray. We discuss Iain’s new study (with host Richard Morrison) on the history of the last 50 years of the liberty movement, and how political alliances have shifted in the 21st century. Free the Economy is produced by Scooter Schaefer, Phoebe Gersten, and Ryan Kracinski. Keep up with the show by following us on Twitter at @freethe_economy and read our episodes summaries with links to the stories we cover at cei.org/blog.

This week we talk about banning plastic gift cards in California, the solution to Germany’s energy crisis, the political future for organized labor, and why Americans refuse to believe they’re richer than ever. Our interview this week is with Matt Darling of the Niskanen Center. We discuss Matt’s new study on unemployment benefits and how the states and the federal government can improve outcomes for out-of-work Americans. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. Our producers are Scooter Schaefer, Phoebe Gersten, and Ryan Kracinski. 

This week we talk about the long history of the Lewis Powell memo of 1971, innovation in textile recycling, how Tokyo has kept housing prices low, and the Biden administration making government less transparent. Our interview this week is with Ashley Baker of the Committee for Justice. We discuss taxes, due process, administrative law, separation of powers, and regulation by the National Marine Fisheries Service. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. Our producers are Scooter Schaefer, Phoebe Gersten, and Ryan Kracinski. 

This week we talk about the future of nuclear power, the possible end of remote work, and the complexities of regulating pork products across state lines. Our interview this week is with Avik Roy of the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity. We discuss trade, employment, immigration, and the tensions between freedom, nationalism, and populism. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. Our producers are Scooter Schaefer, Phoebe Gersten, and Ryan Kracinski.

This week we talk about where our doctors come from in the U.S., what current inflation numbers tell us about the health of our economy, and new pro-family policy reforms. Our interview this week is with Bryan Bashur of Americans for Tax Reform. We discuss banking, consumer finance, competition policy, and how the proposed Credit Card Competition Act would kill valuable benefits that millions of Americans receive for shopping every day. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. Our producers are Scooter Schaefer, Phoebe Gersten, and Ryan Kracinski. 

This week we talk about job recruiters who lie to applicants, post-Covid reforms to the CDC, debunking socialist takes on Sweden, and the need for both mergers and competition in the gaming industry. Our interview this week is with Jack McPherrin of the Heartland Institute. We discuss environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing theory and the international policymaking agenda behind it. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. Our producers are Scooter Schaefer, Phoebe Gersten, and Ryan Kracinski. 

This week we talk about labor union history, demands for a 4-day work week, YIMBY policy wins, and Reason’s new “Why We Can’t Have Nice Things” podcast. Our interview this week is with Daren Bakst, Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Energy and Environment at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. We discuss the National Environmental Policy Act, construction permits, energy infrastructure, and the prospects for permitting reform in Congress. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. Our producers are Scooter Schaefer, Phoebe Gersten, and Ryan Kracinski. 

This week we talk about defending financial privacy, new polling on what Republican voters want, reactions to new employment data, and the declining popularity of ESG investing. Our interview this week is with Prof. Kimberlee Josephson of the Lebanon Valley College. We discuss mergers and acquisitions, consumer welfare, big tech, hipster antitrust, and the court losses recently sustained by the leadership of the Federal Trade Commission. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. Our producers are Scooter Schaefer, Phoebe Gersten, and Ryan Kracinski. 

This week we talk about banning incandescent light bulbs, mission creep at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, new nuclear capacity in Georgia, and a celebration of progress on school choice. Our interview this week is with Patrick McLaughlin, Senior Research Fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. We discuss government regulation, the practice of “incorporation by reference,” government transparency, cost-benefit analysis, and the prospects for simplifying and reforming the regulatory state. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. Our producers are Scooter Schaefer, Phoebe Gersten, and Ryan Kracinski. Keep up with the show by following us on Twitter at @freethe_economy and read our episodes summaries with links to the stories we cover at cei.org/blog.

This week we talk about the Federal Trade Commission’s takeover of AI policy, shareholder lawsuits against “woke” corporations, a burst of new business starts across America, and exciting headlines about scientific and medical research. Our interview this week is with Carrie Conko, Senior Vice President of the State Policy Network. We discuss communicating the ideas of liberty, changing policy at the state level, building a national political movement, and the magic of federalism. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. Our producers are Scooter Schaefer, Phoebe Gersten, and Ryan Kracinski. Keep up with the show by following us on Twitter at @freethe_economy and read our episodes summaries with links to the stories we cover at cei.org/blog.