Sven R Larson, Ph.D., has worked as a staff economist for think tanks and as an advisor to political campaigns. He is the author of several academic papers and books. His writings concentrate on the welfare state, how it causes economic stagnation, and the reforms needed to reduce the negative impact of big government. On Twitter, he is @S_R_Larson and he writes regularly at Larson’s Political Economy on Substack.
Euros & Dollars: Stubborn Inflation a Challenge for the Federal Reserve

Euros & Dollars: Stubborn Inflation a Challenge for the Federal Reserve

We can trace some of the persistently high inflation back to the 2020 pandemic. But this time, it has nothing to do with excessive money printing.

June 13, 2024
Euros & Dollars: Say No to Distance-Based Vehicle Taxes

Euros & Dollars: Say No to Distance-Based Vehicle Taxes

The tax would invade privacy and clash with other attempts at changing behavior through taxes.

June 12, 2024
From Vaccine Skeptic to Presidential Candidate

From Vaccine Skeptic to Presidential Candidate

A brave opponent of vaccine mandates who has the potential to appeal to both libertarians and far-left voters, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a candidate to take seriously.

June 11, 2024
Euros & Dollars: How Big Is the American Government? Part I

Euros & Dollars: How Big Is the American Government? Part I

More people than ever get their paycheck from taxpayers. At the same time, some numbers seem to suggest that the era of big government is over. How is this possible?

June 11, 2024
Euros & Dollars: The Rate Cut Europe Did Not Need

Euros & Dollars: The Rate Cut Europe Did Not Need

There are signs that the policymakers at the ECB realize that this rate cut was not a very good idea. 

June 7, 2024
Euros & Dollars: Britain’s Unending Economic Decline

Euros & Dollars: Britain’s Unending Economic Decline

The skirmish between Prime Minister Sunak and Labour leader Starmer over health care funding reveals a deeply rooted structural flaw in the British economy.

June 6, 2024
Euros & Dollars: High U.S. Interest Rates Are Here To Stay

Euros & Dollars: High U.S. Interest Rates Are Here To Stay

For two major reasons, you should plan your personal finances on the premise that interest rates will remain high for the long haul.

June 5, 2024
Euros & Dollars: France Deserved Its Downgrade

Euros & Dollars: France Deserved Its Downgrade

Unless the French political leadership does something radical, more downgrades are coming.

June 4, 2024
Euros & Dollars: U.S. Debt Up $3 Trillion in One Year

Euros & Dollars: U.S. Debt Up $3 Trillion in One Year

Getting the numbers right is the first step toward closing the budget gap. Here is the first step; when will we see the next?

June 1, 2024
The Day the Democrats Putinized America

The Day the Democrats Putinized America

The guilty verdict against Trump is a crucial watershed moment for America, politically, constitutionally, and morally.

May 31, 2024
Euros & Dollars: Europe Is Trapped by the Welfare State

Euros & Dollars: Europe Is Trapped by the Welfare State

By design, the standard European welfare state traps people in perennial dependency on government.

May 30, 2024
Euros & Dollars: Joe Biden’s Debt Bomb

Euros & Dollars: Joe Biden’s Debt Bomb

The U.S. government has faced a sharp rise in debt costs in the past year—but that was only the beginning. The numbers presented here should scare Congress into debt panic.

May 29, 2024