Economic Forces

Economic Forces

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April 2025

When do rent controls help renters?
They lower price. But at what cost? Bulow and Klemperer provide the tools.
 • 
Brian Albrecht
Is Dollar Dominance Good for the U.S.?
Thoughts on the U.S.'s so-called exorbitant privilege.
 • 
Josh Hendrickson
5
Will a recession raise productivity?
Probably not. But, historically, U.S. recessions often have.
 • 
Brian Albrecht
10
High tariffs didn't make the U.S. rich in the 19th century. They won't this time.
On tariffs and 19th century economic growth
 • 
Brian Albrecht
Can What We Know About Firms Help Us to Understand the Organization of Congress?
Congress, like the firm, is designed to minimize the costs associated with ensuring contractual performance and opportunistic behavior
 • 
Josh Hendrickson

March 2025

Stop saying a value-added tax is an export subsidy
It's not. No matter how many times people (even economists) say they are.
 • 
Brian Albrecht
21
Do Lower Legal Interest Rates Actually Reduce Borrowing Costs?
The problem with maximum interest rates is that they increase the marginal cost of borrowing
 • 
Josh Hendrickson
1
A British Conservative proposes the worst idea in competition policy yet
When you get the facts and the theory wrong, bad policy conclusions are likely to follow.
 • 
Brian Albrecht
2
What We Have Been Up To...
We've been busy. Here's what we have been doing.
 • 
Josh Hendrickson
 and 
Brian Albrecht
Prices are signals (and politicians keep shooting the messenger)
Economic policy insight #1: A price is a signal wrapped in an incentive.
 • 
Brian Albrecht
19
GDP is a good measure. Don't mess with it for political reasons.
Removing government production from GDP Is a terrible idea
 • 
Brian Albrecht
39
© 2025 Brian Albrecht and Josh Hendrickson
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