Category Archives: Price Controls

a first class economist on the minimum wage

Posted on November 27, 2015 by christopher fisher

An important post on the Minimum Wage debate. Don Bourdreaux posts some blog comments from an anonymous commenter. Excerpts: On possible unintended consequences: (1) Low-skilled workers can be replaced by slightly more-skilled workers once the wage difference between them has … Continue reading →

Posted in Econ 101, Economics, Incentives Matter, Price Controls | Leave a comment

professional photographer 2 minutes of hate

Posted on April 16, 2015 by christopher fisher

April 15 is known as Tax Day in America. Within the professional photography community it is a day of rage. In 1984 terms, it is their Two Minutes of Hate. Up to a third of photography business profits might be … Continue reading →

Posted in Econ 101, Economics, Goverment, Incentives Matter, Price Controls, prices, Standard of Living | Leave a comment

price fixing in phuket

Posted on August 14, 2014 by christopher fisher

Recently I had a chance to visit Phuket, a tourist Island in southern Thailand. Hotels during the off season were priced reasonably, $15 dollars a day for a queen bed and hot shower. But, food and clothing prices seem to … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Price Controls, prices | Leave a comment

repeal the davis-bacon act

Posted on January 26, 2014 by christopher fisher

In 1931, the Davis Bacon Act (DBA) was passed. According the FAR 22.403-1 “The Davis-Bacon Act (40 U.S.C. 3141 et seq.) provides that contracts in excess of $2,000 to which the United States or the District of Columbia is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Contracting, Econ 101, Economics, Goverment, Labor, Price Controls, prices | 1 Comment

the unseen harms of the minimum wage

Posted on December 9, 2013 by christopher fisher

Don Boudreaux lists out some various possible effects of an increase in the minimum wage, all of which hurt low skilled workers: First, neither I nor any other economist insists “that the minimum wage must raise unemployment.” Raising unemployment is … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Price Controls, prices | 3 Comments

the evilness of the new deal

Posted on November 28, 2013 by christopher fisher

Bart Wilson reminds his readers why the New Deal was utterly evil. From The Grapes of Wrath: The works of the roots of the vines, of the trees, must be destroyed to keep up the price, and this is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Goverment, History, People, Price Controls, Sowell | Leave a comment

facts are stubborn things

Posted on November 6, 2013 by christopher fisher

The one great thing about Obamacare is that it is a beautiful illustration of economics in action. With most things in this world, it is very hard to discern cause and effect from just what is visible. I am reminded … Continue reading →

Posted in Econ 101, Economics, Goverment, Price Controls, prices | 3 Comments

reasontv on airbnb

Posted on August 26, 2013 by christopher fisher

An excellent profile of an amazing company by ReasonTV:

Posted in Economics, Goverment, Price Controls, videos | Leave a comment

the great medical cost decline

Posted on August 20, 2013 by christopher fisher

The best way to illustrate with real life examples how “insurance” increases the price of services, is to compare covered procedures with uncovered procedures: Cosmetic Surgery Prices. Cosmetic surgery is one of the few types of medical care for which … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Human Nature, Price Controls | 1 Comment

understanding insurance costs

Posted on August 20, 2013 by christopher fisher

Pretend you decide to spend a night out eating at Olive Garden. You arrive to find the restaurant filled with 49 other people, all who value and love Olive Garden’s food. But as soon as you sit down, the waiter … Continue reading →

Posted in Econ 101, Economics, Goverment, Human Nature, Price Controls | 1 Comment