Acton Occasional Series

May 22, 2018

The puzzle of economic growth

Note: This is post #79 in a weekly video series on basic economics. Why are some countries rich and others poor? There are various factors that interact in a dynamic and changing environment. Continue Reading...

May 15, 2018

How geography affects economic growth

Note: This is post #78 in a weekly video series on basic economics. You could fit most of the U.S., China, India, and a lot of Europe, into Africa. But if you compare Africa to Europe, Europe has two to three times the length of coastline that Africa. Continue Reading...

May 08, 2018

The importance of institutions

Note: This is post #77 in a weekly video series on basic economics. When it comes to understanding economic growth, says Tyler Cowen of Marginal Revolution University, institutions are often critically important. Continue Reading...

May 04, 2018

Unemployment as economic-spiritual indicator — April 2018 report

Series Note: Jobs are one of the most important aspects of a morally functioning economy. They help us serve the needs of our neighbors and lead to human flourishing both for the individual and for communities. Continue Reading...

May 03, 2018

5 Facts about Karl Marx

This Saturday is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Karl Marx, the most destructively influential writer on economics in world history. Here are five facts should know about the German philosopher and co-author of The Communist Manifesto: 1. Continue Reading...

May 01, 2018

Growth miracles and growth disasters

Note: This is post #76 in a weekly video series on basic economics. Because of differences in national growth rates there can be large disparities in economic wealth among different countries. Continue Reading...

April 23, 2018

What caused the rapid rise of ‘innovationism’?

Note: This is post #75 in a weekly video series on basic economics. While there have always been inventors and innovators, that number exploded after the eighteenth century. Why has innovation grown so rapidly? Continue Reading...

April 16, 2018

Explainer: House GOP proposes changes to ‘food stamp’ program

What just happened? Last week the House Agriculture Committee introduced the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, more commonly known as the Farm Bill. The new Farm Bill makes significant changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the “largest program in the domestic hunger safety net.” Continue Reading...

April 13, 2018

6 Quotes: Thomas Jefferson on liberty and government

Today is the 275th birthday of Thomas Jefferson. Since our third president would object to us celebrating his birthday (“The only birthday I ever commemorate,” Jefferson once said, “is that of our Independence, the Fourth of July.”) Continue Reading...

April 12, 2018

Explainer: What You Should Know About Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s Senate Hearings

What just happened? On Tuesday, Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg gave testimony (though not officially under oath) before a joint hearing of the Senate Judiciary and Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation committees. Continue Reading...

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