Featured Video Archive
EconPop - The Economics of Dallas Buyers Club
In this premiere episode of EconPop, Andrew discusses the economics of Academy Award winner Dallas Buyers Club. Subjects include public health and safety regulations, crony capitalism and the role of regulatory capture, the emergence of black and grey markets, and commercial exchange as a means for increased social tolerance. … more
Does Capitalism Exploit Workers?
Prof. Matt Zwolinski explains why capitalism actually tends to protect workers' interests. And Zwolinski contends that even if it were exploitative, increasing political regulation and control would actually make the problem worse. Increases in government make citizens more vulnerable to the state. Political officials are tempted to exploit this vulnerability for the benefit of the politically well connected. Unlike free market transactions, which are mutually beneficial, when politics is involved one party's gain usually comes at someone else's expense. … more
Play Ball: President Bush's Opening Pitch at Yankee Stadium After 9/11
Now that baseball season has started, it is worth watching the behind-the-scenes action that took place before President George W. Bush's first pitch at Yankee Stadium in 2001. Watch it in honor of those who lost their lives on 9/11 and those serving us today. … more
MEA Lets Two Teachers Out; 8,000 More Not Paying Dues
Coopersville kindergarten teacher Miriam Chanski and Petoskey wrestling coach William "Ray" Arthur sued the Michigan Education Association for not allowing them to exercise their rights to leave the union and stop paying dues. The union threatened to ruin these teachers' credit. Not intimidated, the teachers continued to stand for their rights, refusing to go along with a settlement that would have forced them to keep quiet about being let out of the union. Eventually, the union backed down, allowing the teachers to do what they should have been able to do all along. … more
Mackinac Center on Fox Business: Hollywood Exodus
The Mackinac Center's managing editor of Michigan Capitol Confidential, Manny Lopez, on Fox Business's "Money with Melissa Francis" show discussing film makers' exodus from Hollywood. … more
The MEA Under Oath: 8,000 Teachers Short
In 2013, school districts no longer could automatically collect dues. The MEA, unlike any other unions, gives members just one month to quit: August. Here's the catch: many teachers were unaware of the rule, and have filed complaints against the MEA. The Mackinac Center Legal Foundation provides representation and counsel for many of these teachers. … more
The Real 'Truth About the Economy': Have Wages Stagnated?
Prof. Don Boudreaux responds to "The Truth About the Economy," a recent video featuring former Labor Secretary Robert Reich. In the video, one of Reich's key points is that most people's wages have barely increased since 1980. However, when Reich's numbers are examined in greater detail, his claim does not hold up. … more
Remy: Working 9 to 5 (Obamacare Remix)
The new health care law shakes up Remy's employment situation. … more
VoteSpotter: The Easiest Way to Spot an Important Vote
Michigan legislators vote on hundreds of bills every year. Keeping track of them can seem like a full-time job. Not any more. VoteSpotter alerts you to important votes, but it doesn't stop there. You can vote on their vote, let them know if you agree or disagree, and share your views on social media. It's the easiest way to spot an important vote.
Does the Minimum Wage Hurt Workers?
The minimum wage sounds nice on the surface: workers earning $8 per hour would certainly be better off if they were earning $12 per hour instead. But economics professor Antony Davies explains that this view of the minimum wage overlooks an important detail: The minimum wage does not force employers to pay a particular wage to every worker; it forces employers to pay a particular wage to every worker they choose to keep. While the minimum wage may be well-intentioned public policy, it often hurts the very workers most in need of our help. … more
New Menu Item at Zingerman's: The Minimum Wage
The well known Ann Arbor deli and gourmet food shop recently raised its lowest wage. Recently, it held a promotional event for government to force others to raise the minimum wage for all businesses, but questions remain if all businesses can afford it. … more
The Gender Wage Gap Is a Myth
The wage gap myth, most recently used by President Obama during the State of the Union Address, states that women make only 77 cents to every dollar that men earn. AEI resident scholar Christina Hoff Sommers debunks the bogus statistic. … more
How the NFL Fleeces Taxpayers
The NFL raked in over $9 billion in revenues last season and the league is pushing team owners to triple that mark over the next decade.
With the league's overwhelming success, many cities are eager to get a piece of the action, often offering billions in public subsidies to attract (or keep) football in their localities. But with the NFL making record profits, is it right for cities to spend public money on these type of projects? Especially when over half of NFL team owners are ranked on the Forbes billionaire list? … more
Get Konnected with The Kronies Action Figures
The Kronies are in action...Mandating, Tarrify-ing, Inflating, and Boondoggling their way to profits powered by their special konnection to the G-Force. Watch Big-G and his team stomp out competition! … more
The Highland Park Transformation
This is the story of how the Detroit-area Highland Park school district is being transformed from a failing district to an improving one. Under the old system, the school buildings were filthy and filled with rodents. Now, as one of Michigan's first charter school districts, Highland Park schools are clean and fit for learning. … more
Should Michigan Raise the Minimum Wage?
CapCon associate Jarrett Skorup debates the minimum wage at Grand Valley State University.
“Among the most basic laws of economics is if you make something more expensive, you will have less of it,” Skorup said. “Minimum wage laws make hiring someone more expensive, and thus you’ll get less of it.” … more
Disabled Family Sees 300 Percent Increase In Health Insurance Costs Under Obamacare
Obamacare was supposed to help families with pre-existing conditions, not hurt them. But that has not been the case for the Davert Family of Bay City, Michigan. … more
Schools of Choice in Michigan: A Mackinac Center Study
The study measures growth over time and geographic spread, and reveals student and parental preferences the program brings to light. The study finds that SOC participation has grown steadily, with enrollment growing by 144 percent over the past 10 years. … more
In this premiere episode of EconPop, Andrew discusses the economics of Academy Award winner Dallas Buyers Club. Subjects include public health and safety regulations, crony capitalism and the role of regulatory capture, the emergence of black and grey markets, and commercial exchange as a means for increased social tolerance.
