Most articles and books that have been written on immigration policy start from a utilitarian position. They discuss issues such as whether immigration, on balance, is more harmful than beneficial, whether allowing immigrants into the country results in job losses, increases in welfare costs,...

The Supreme Court decisions in Washington v. Glucksberg and Vacco v. Quill on the constitutionality of physician-assisted suicide leave much to be desired. Although this topic has been beaten to death in the literature, the vast majority of commentators have either missed the main point entirely...

The North Carolina legislature passed a law that prohibits transgender individuals from using certain public toilets. The legislation has been controversial. Some entertainers have stated they will not hold concerts in North Carolina until the law is repealed. Some corporations have been...

This paper compares and contrasts the various attributes of two ethical systems, utilitarianism and property rights. Utilitarianism is the ethical position taken by the vast majority of economists as well as politicians and bureaucrats. However, upon close examination, several major flaws can be...

This article examines the view that sanctions should be imposed on Russia because of its involvement with Crimea. Applying sanctions fails the utilitarian ethics test because sanctions result in more losers than winners. The result would be a negative-sum game. Sanctions fail the rights test...

This article examines the view that sanctions should be imposed on Russia because of its involvement with Crimea. Applying sanctions fails the utilitarian ethics test because sanctions result in more losers than winners. The result would be a negative-sum game. Sanctions fail the rights test...

Various state legislatures have passed a law that prohibits transgender individuals from using certain public toilets. The legislation has been controversial. The Supreme Court has agreed to place this issue on its docket (Gloucester County School Board vs. G.G.). This article summarizes that...

The North Carolina legislature passed a law that prohibits transgender individuals from using certain public toilets. The legislation has been controversial. Some entertainers have stated they will not hold concerts in North Carolina until the law is repealed. Some corporations have been...

Frederic Bastiat (1801-1850) was an economist and journalist. A member of the French Liberal School, he is best known for his free trade ideas and his philosophy of law. Mark Blaug ranks him as one of the 100 greatest economists before Keynes. Schumpeter called him a brilliant economic...