31 | July | 2012

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

U.S. recovery weakest of any in the world since 1970

James Pethokoukis | July 31, 2012, 4:35 pm

The Obama administration says one reason the U.S. economic recovery has been so slow is that it is still suffering from the aftermath of the financial crisis. But the U.S. is not the first country to suffer a recession and … read more >

Carpe Diem

Happy 100th Birthday Milton Friedman!

Mark J. Perry | July 31, 2012, 4:06 pm

Milton Friedman was born on this day, July 31, in 1912, and he would have been 100 years old today. Unfortunately, Milton died on November 16, 2006 when he was 94 years old. Coincidentally, that was just several months after … read more >

Carpe Diem

U.S. Restaurants Show Expansion Again in June

Mark J. Perry | July 31, 2012, 2:55 pm

The National Restaurant Association reported today that: “Bolstered by stronger same-store sales and customer traffic levels, the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) stood above 100 for the eighth consecutive month in June. The RPI – a monthly composite … read more >

Pethokoukis

Bill Clinton to nominate the Un-Clinton at Dem convention

James Pethokoukis | July 31, 2012, 2:42 pm

It’s understandable why former President Bill Clinton is the choice to officially nominate President Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention in early September. The economy was great during the Clinton years, and Obama is trying to argue that his … read more >

Carpe Diem

America’s energy revolution has brought lower real prices for both natural gas and electricity, saving consumers billions

Mark J. Perry | July 31, 2012, 2:34 pm

One of the economic benefits of the shale gas revolution is the moderating effect that abundant, cheap shale gas has had on the price of electricity in the U.S. for all end-users: residential, commercial and industrial customers. The indirect cost … read more >

Photo Credit: MPD01605 (Flickr) (CC BY 2.0)

Economics, International economy

Waiting for the European Central Bank

Desmond Lachman | July 31, 2012, 2:30 pm

With the European debt crisis having entered a new and more dangerous phase, the markets are now waiting with bated breath for this Thursday’s European Central Bank (ECB) meeting. For that meeting will most likely give substance to ECB President … read more >

Photo Credit: Jeff Attaway (Wikimedia Commons)

Economics, Energy and the Environment

Did Greens cause the Indian blackouts?

Kenneth P. Green | July 31, 2012, 1:02 pm

What happens when you let environmentalists set your country’s energy policy? What happens when you rely on state-controlled energy companies rather than competitive markets? The answer is on display in India, where half a billion people were without power over … read more >

Photo Credit: Ellen Meiselman (Wikimedia Commons)

Economics, Free Enterprise

Milton Friedman and AEI

Karlyn Bowman | July 31, 2012, 12:39 pm

In honor of Milton Friedman’s 100th birthday, AEI offers a brief history of the late Dr. Friedman’s relationship with the Institute. In 1954, the American Enterprise Association hired William J. Baroody, Sr. as executive vice president of the association. In … read more >

Photo Credit: Pete Souza, White House Flickr Feed

Politics and Public Opinion, Polls

Obama losing his biggest advantage?

Henrik Temp | July 31, 2012, 12:38 pm

One of Obama’s few strengths thus far has been his huge lead on personal characteristics and likability: If that goes away and Americans are left to decide between two men they like, trust, and empathize with more or less equally, the president will lose. read more >

Politics and Public Opinion, Elections

Cheney’s real advice: Pick someone like Dick Cheney

Marc Thiessen | July 31, 2012, 12:22 pm

Former Vice President Dick Cheney caused a stir when, in an interview with ABC News’s Jonathan Karl, he said that John McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin was a “mistake.” Reading the entire exchange, I think it’s pretty clear Cheney did not … read more >

Hindsight Isn’t 20/20
Many lessons should be drawn from the U.S. experience in Iraq. Unfortunately, we’re not learning what we should. […]
The Uses of Scandal
One of the greatest uses of scandal is to vividly demonstrate what new laws are needed and to create the political conditions to get them enacted. […]
Lean In… to Government?
Sheryl Sandberg's runaway best-selling book Lean In has managed to offend both the Left and the Right. Sandberg touts female hard-headedness, yet also calls for an elaborate government- and employer-supplied support system for women. […]
Are American Voters Racist?
Racial prejudice plays a very small role in American politics, but a highly disciplined sense of self-interest on the part of one group may play a very large role in the way the federal government functions. […]