Religion & Liberty Online Archives

Acton Occasional Series

July 11, 2017

Is it cleaner to trade pollution?

Note: This is post #40 in a weekly video series on basic microeconomics. In an effort to reduce pollution, the government tried two policy prescriptions under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, notes Alex Tabarrok of Marginal Revolution University. Continue Reading...
July 05, 2017

Understanding the President’s Cabinet: Director of the CIA

Note: This is the post #23 in a weekly series of explanatory posts on the officials and agencies included in the President’s Cabinet. See the series introduction here. Cabinet position: Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (D/CIA) (Note: This office became a cabinet-level position in February 2017.) Continue Reading...
June 28, 2017

Understanding the President’s Cabinet: OMB Director

Note: This is the post #22 in a weekly series of explanatory posts on the officials and agencies included in the President’s Cabinet. See the series introduction here.   Cabinet position: Director of the Office of Management and Budget Department:  Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Current Director: Mick Mulvaney Department Mission: “The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) serves the President of the United States in overseeing the implementation of his vision across the Executive Branch. Continue Reading...
June 27, 2017

Bees, Pollination, and the Coase Theorem

Note: This is post #39 in a weekly video series on basic microeconomics. In this video by Marginal Revolution University, economist Alex Tabarrok shows how bees and pollination demonstrate the Coase Theorem in action: when transaction costs are low and property rights are clearly defined, private arrangements ensure that the market works even when there are externalities. Continue Reading...
June 21, 2017

What Christians should know about ‘the economy’

Note: This is the latest entry in the Acton blog series, “What Christians Should Know About Economics.” For other entries in the series see this post. The Term: ‘The Economy’ (aka Gross National Product) What it Means: When people refer to “the economy” they are usually referring to a particular idea—Gross Domestic Product (GDP)—which is itself simply an economic metric. Continue Reading...
June 20, 2017

5 Facts about refugees in America

Today is World Refugee Day, an annual observance created by the United Nations to “commemorate the strength, courage and perseverance of millions of refugees.” Here are five facts you should know about refugees and refugee policy in the United States. Continue Reading...
June 13, 2017

What the flu can teach us about economics

Note: This is post #37 in a weekly video series on basic microeconomics. What can the flu teach us about economics? In this video, Alex Tabarrok of Marginal Revolution University explains how vaccines produce positive externalities that help people stay healthy. Continue Reading...