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Articles by Benjamin Seevers
The NFL Draft and Public Buses
Audio Mises Wire Tags: Prices, Politics, Property Rights What is the Mises Institute? Become a Member
The NFL Draft and Public Buses
The 2026 NFL draft was held in Pittsburgh, which was the first time in the city since 1946. This year’s draft also broke attendance records with north of 800,000 people attending the final day. The Thursday and Friday of the draft witnessed more than 600,000 people on Pittsburgh’s North Shore, effectively more than doubling the city’s population. Strains on scarce infrastructure came with the large attendance.
Squaring the Libertarian Circle on Tariffs and Immigration
President Donald Trump claimed in a statement that his tariffs would help with “the major threat of illegal aliens.” This is a puzzling claim. While it might be true that tariffs can be used as a tool for negotiations with Mexico, immigration control and trade barriers are contradictory policies. Tariffs increase the incentive to immigrate—illegally immigrate.
The Many Hidden Costs of Tariffs
Tariffs are not going anywhere in 2025. There is no indication that the protectionist rhetoric embraced by President-elect Donald Trump has changed; in fact, the evidence suggests that tariff policy will worsen. Given this climate, it is important for economists to make the case for free trade. Of course, tariffs raise the price of tariffed goods and benefit domestic manufacturers at the expense of domestic consumers and foreign producers. These drawbacks are well known.
What RFK Jr. Should Do to Battle High-Fructose Corn Syrup
A Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) run by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. will likely go after crony interests in the health bureaucracy. If RFK Jr. wants to “Make America Healthy Again,” then this would be a good start. However, not every change in the new administration is likely to be beneficial. For example, RFK Jr.—a lifelong progressive—will definitely not be afraid to use government intervention to achieve his policy objectives.
Will Donald Trump Eliminate the Department of Education?
Hardly a minute has gone by without the media sounding off about President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominations. However, one department has garnered more attention than others: the Department of Education). Trump has stated that eliminating the Department of Education and devolving governance of education to the states would be one of the first actions of his second administration, and his choice for secretary, Linda McMahon, may or may not share Trump’s goal.
The Constitution’s Negative Effects on Free Trade
Audio Mises Wire Tags: Bureaucracy and Regulation, Protectionism and Free Trade, U.S. Economy What is the Mises Institute? Become a Member
Mandating the Bible? A Libertarian Appraisal
The Oklahoma State Superintendent—the highest education authority in the state—mandated that public schools incorporate the Bible into lesson plans. While there are good reasons to oppose it, the edict challenges a Supreme Court decision that should be overturned: School District of Abington Township v. Schempp. Abington v. Schempp ruled that mandatory Bible readings and recitation of the Lord’s Prayer in public schools violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
Common Sense vs. Economics
Donald Trump recently identified the Republican Party as the “party of common sense.” In many ways, common sense is lacking in public policy. For example, progressive activists do not acknowledge the negative relationship between regulation and economic prosperity. However, “common sense” is not what an economy needs. What an economy needs is free markets, and that is not the product of mere “common sense,” but economic sense.
The Constitution’s Negative Effects on Free Trade
Samuel Gregg recently gave a lecture at West Virginia University. Gregg is an engaging speaker and a good antidote to the shift of the Christian right to Christian nationalism or Catholic integralism. However, we should be skeptical of some of what he argues with respect to free trade. Gregg argues that the Constitution is a free-trade agreement between the states, which in part allowed the subsequent uptick in growth in the US. While this is partially true, the Constitution is a double-edged sword.
How Should a Principled Libertarian Vote?
The 2024 election is right around the corner, and libertarians have a choice to make. There are many legitimate options; libertarians have historically taken a number of stances, such as abstention, write-ins, voting for principled candidates or the lesser of two evils. Considerations usually fall into two columns: principled and practical. Those who vote on principle vote for a libertarian-oriented candidate.
California’s Crony Capitalist Minimum Wage Law
Audio Mises Wire Tags: Bureaucracy and Regulation, Cronyism and Corporatism, Labor and Wages, Unemployment What is the Mises Institute? Become a Member
God, Pigs, and Private Property
The Judaic prohibition on pigs has puzzled scholars for centuries — so much so that certain atheist writers, such as Christopher Hitchens, have used this prohibition as evidence against the rationality of Christianity. Recent scholarly work, however, persuasively argues that the pig ban was used to protect agricultural property from destruction wrought by free-range pigs.
California’s Crony Capitalist Minimum Wage Law
On April 1, California raised the minimum wage for large fast food restaurant franchises to $20 an hour. This law will threaten seven hundred thousand jobs by destroying the state’s food franchising business; however, there is one notable fast food franchise exempted from this minimum wage hike: Panera. Greg Flynn is the second-largest Panera franchisee in the world, but he is also known for his close relationship with California governor Gavin Newsom.
Need More Public Parking? Privatize It!
In its usual form, the case for privatizing public parking invokes the basic economic principles of supply and demand. This case is usually restricted to private parking lots and garages. For example, Walter Block discusses how market incentives can drive parking rates to rise to eliminate shortages here. A more radical proposal is the privatization of public parking altogether. A common form of public parking that libertarians can target for privatization is free public roadside parking.
Hazlitt Against Keynes on Unemployment and Wages: A Lesson for Modern Macroeconomics
The Failure of the ‘New Economics’ thoroughly demolished the Keynesian system. Unfortunately, this “economic demolition” as Rothbard called it (Hazlitt 2007 [1959], xvi), went ignored by the mainstream despite it carrying implications that would have prevented the decline in theoretical vigor of mainstream economics that was Keynesianism. Hazlitt’s argument against Keynesianism was more than a mere theoretical critique; it was a robust argument fortified by sound economic theory and history.
No, There Is Not a Perfect Open Border System between the States
Audio Mises Wire Tags: Big Government, Bureaucracy and Regulation, Economic Policy, The Police State Donate today
No, There Is Not a Perfect Open Border System between the States
Jonathan Casey, in his opening remarks during a debate with Ryan McMaken on national divorce, criticized national divorce on the grounds that it throws away the open borders compact between the states. This, per his evaluation, would hamper the freedom of travel. He expressed the same sentiment during the National Divorce debate the Soho Forum held last year. “We have a perfect open borders system” between the U.S. states, claims Jonathan Casey.
Taylor Swift Shows Us Why We Need to Shake Off Intellectual Property
Taking on Taylor Swift, a recent documentary on CNN, tells the story of Sean Hall and Nathan Butler, a pair of songwriters for the early 2000s hip-hop group 3LW. Hall and Butler sued Taylor Swift in 2021 over Swift’s hit song “Shake It Off” for allegedly violating their copyright for the 3LW song “Playas Gon’ Play.” Hall and Butler allege that the phrases “haters gonna hate” and “playas gonna play” in Swift’s song are ripped straight from the 3LW song. This accusation is simply dishonest.
Taylor Swift Shows Us Why We Need to Shake Off Intellectual Property | Benjamin Seevers
Taking on Taylor Swift, a recent documentary on CNN, tells the story of Sean Hall and Nathan Butler, a pair of songwriters for the early 2000s hip-hop group 3LW. Hall and Butler sued Taylor Swift in 2021 over Swift’s hit song “Shake It Off” for allegedly violating their copyright for the 3LW song “Playas Gon’ Play.” Hall and Butler allege that the phrases “haters gonna hate” and “playas gonna play” in Swift’s song are ripped straight from the 3LW song. This accusation is simply dishonest.
Mises Wire
General Topics Austrian School Filter by Title: Sort by: Lincoln Dissected Decentralization and SecessionU.S. History The “second American Constitution,” was an illegal overthrow of the Articles of Confederation. This nationalist cabal behind the new constitution paved the way for new myths used to hammer the new confederation into a single unified national state.
Wonka: A Tale of Evil Businessmen and Cronyism | Benjamin Seevers
Home | Wire | Wonka: A Tale of Evil Businessmen and Cronyism Wonka: A Tale of Evil Businessmen and Cronyism Tags Bureaucracy and RegulationCronyism and CorporatismThe EntrepreneurMedia and Culture Wonka (2023) is a prequel film to the beloved story Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. Wonka tells the story of a young Willy Wonka, an up-and-coming chocolate salesman and magician, who challenges a chocolate cartel’s dominance.
Mises Wire
General Topics Austrian School Filter by Title: Sort by: Why Open Borders Don't Work for Small Countries World History The arguments of open-borders advocates may be applicable in some corners of the developed world. However, for small countries next to larger ones, open borders bring serious geopolitical consequences.
Mises Wire
General Topics Austrian School Filter by Title: Sort by: Why Open Borders Don't Work for Small Countries World History The arguments of open-borders advocates may be applicable in some corners of the developed world. However, for small countries next to larger ones, open borders bring serious geopolitical consequences.
What Many Critics of Child Labor Overlook | Benjamin Seevers
Mars, the candy company, is facing criticism over its use of child labor. These criticisms are in light of a CBS News special report finding that many children, some as young as five, work in fields in Ghana that supply the candy company its cocoa. This is not the first time Mars, Inc. has faced heat over the use of child labor. Back in August, International Rights Advocates sued the Biden administration to block the importation of cocoa that utilizes child labor as an input.
Mises Wire
General Topics Austrian School Filter by Title: Sort by: Mises and Popper on Action PhilosophyPhilosophy and MethodologyPraxeology While Ludwig von Mises and Karl Popper disagreed on methodology, but Brian Gladish believes that perhaps their viewpoints were not as divergent as their followers suggest.
Privatizing Roads Solves the Problem of Road Closures | Benjamin Seevers
While traveling recently, I was stuck in a terrible bout of traffic. Unbeknownst to me, West Virginia University’s fall graduation just ended, and I was caught in the middle of the seemingly endless stream of parents, relatives, and friends who were leaving the ceremony. To deal with this problem, the City of Morgantown closed down lanes and reserved them for exclusive use by graduation attendees.
Mises Wire
General Topics Austrian School Filter by Title: Sort by: Mises and Popper on Action PhilosophyPhilosophy and MethodologyPraxeology While Ludwig von Mises and Karl Popper disagreed on methodology, but Brian J. Gladish believes that perhaps their viewpoints were not as divergent as their followers suggest.
Mises Wire
General Topics Austrian School Filter by Title: Sort by: Privatizing Roads Solves the Problem of Road Closures Bureaucracy and RegulationFree MarketsProperty Rights All of us have experienced government road closures and the traffic and safety nightmares they create. Private roads may be the answer to solving the problem.
Mises Wire
General Topics Austrian School Filter by Title: Sort by: Let them Merge: Foreign Acquisition of US Steel PoliticsProtectionism and Free TradeU.S. EconomyWar and Foreign Policy Nippon Steel's proposal to merge with US Steel is meeting opposition from the usual suspects in Washington, not to mention Tucker Carlson. Their hysteria is off the charts. Read More Do Destroyed Monuments Represent a Past Not Worth Defending?
Mises Wire
General Topics Austrian School Filter by Title: Sort by: The Evil of the Residential Property Tax Taxes and Spending Residential property taxes attack one of the most fundamental needs and assets in a person's life—i.e., housing—in a way the income tax does not. As the central bank's monetary inflation drives up home prices, property tax burdens increase as well.
A Libertarian Defense of Surrogacy
Amidst announcements of gay conservatives having children by surrogate, commentators such as Michael Knowles and Katy Faust levied criticism against the practice of surrogacy in general. These commentators, however, get a lot wrong. Let’s examine each of the most prominent objections. In a recent tweet, Michael Knowles states: We oppose both abortion and IVF/surrogacy because people are not property to be bought and disposed of at will.
Mises Wire
General Topics Austrian School Filter by Title: Sort by: Understanding Our Disharmony AntipoliticsCronyism and CorporatismMedia and Culture Ostensibly to combat "disunity," political elites have called for Americans to unite over the "public good." However, the policies these elites want to put into place are the very cause of disharmonies in the first place. Read More Paul Krugman Blames Economic Pessimism on Partisanship. He’s Wrong.
Mises Wire
General Topics Austrian School Filter by Title: Sort by: 30-Year Mortgages Are Still a Sweet Deal—For People who Already Have Them Economic PolicyFinancial MarketsU.S. EconomyInterventionism Government intervened into home mortgages to subsidize home buyers and make home ownership more "affordable." As with most interventions, the results have backfired as home prices and mortgage rates skyrocket.
Why We Should Be Thankful for ‘Greedflation’
U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D) recently released the “Special Report on Greedflation.” This publication attempts to explain high inflation by an appeal to corporate greed, and it further proposes policies on how to deal with greed. As one could imagine, this report is chock-full of errors, but one stands out most prominently. The error is that “greedflation” is a bad thing. In actuality, so-called “greedflation” is good. The report narrates a story of a fictional mother of two named Anne.
Mises Wire
General Topics Austrian School Filter by Title: Sort by: A Chance to Double Your Gift! Dr. Gary Schlarbaum, one of our generous supporters, has again offered to match donations received through December 11.
Do You Have a Right to Sell Your Land to the Chinese? | Ryan McMaken, Benjamin Seevers
Home | Mises Library | Do You Have a Right to Sell Your Land to the Chinese? Do You Have a Right to Sell Your Land to the Chinese? Tags LibertarianismProperty RightsWar and Foreign Policy Ryan McMaken and Benjamin Seevers examine the reasoning behind efforts to destroy Americans' right to sell land to foreign nationals, especially the Chinese. It seems some think that Chinese nationals' ownership of 0.03% of American farmland is a big problem.
Arkansas' Attack on Chinese-Owned Property Is Reckless and Crony-Driven
Arkansas' Attack on Chinese-Owned Property Is Reckless and Crony-Driven By Benjamin Seevers Mises.org Citing national security concerns, Arkansas ordered Chinese company Syngenta to sell off the 160 acres of farmland it owns in the state. The national security concerns are, as will be demonstrated, bogus; however, there may be more crony motivations for this order as well. An article of mine published in July 2023 by the Libertarian Institute addresses these national security concerns.
Mises Wire
General Topics Austrian School Filter by Title: Sort by: Progressive Interventionism Is Ruining American Healthcare Bureaucracy and RegulationCronyism and CorporatismHealthProgressivism Sen. Elizabeth Warren is at it again: demanding government intervention in the nation's healthcare system to deal with problems caused by earlier government intervention.
Why We Should Be Thankful for ‘Greedflation’
U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D) recently released the “Special Report on Greedflation.” This publication attempts to explain high inflation by an appeal to corporate greed, and it further proposes policies on how to deal with greed. As one could imagine, this report is chock-full of errors, but one stands out most prominently. The error is that “greedflation” is a bad thing. In actuality, so-called “greedflation” is good. The report narrates a story of a fictional mother of two named Anne.
Arkansas' Attack on Chinese-Owned Property Is Reckless and Crony-Driven | Benjamin Seevers
Home | Wire | Arkansas' Attack on Chinese-Owned Property Is Reckless and Crony-Driven Arkansas' Attack on Chinese-Owned Property Is Reckless and Crony-Driven Tags Cronyism and CorporatismPoliticsWar and Foreign Policy Citing national security concerns, Arkansas ordered Chinese company Syngenta to sell off the 160 acres of farmland it owns in the state. The national security concerns are, as will be demonstrated, bogus; however, there may be more crony motivations for this order as well.
Why We Should Be Thankful for ‘Greedflation’ | Benjamin Seevers
U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D) recently released the “Special Report on Greedflation.” This publication attempts to explain high inflation by an appeal to corporate greed, and it further proposes policies on how to deal with greed. As one could imagine, this report is chock-full of errors, but one stands out most prominently. The error is that “greedflation” is a bad thing. In actuality, so-called “greedflation” is good. The report narrates a story of a fictional mother of two named Anne.
Arkansas' Order to Chinese-Owned Syngenta to Sell Its Farmland in that State Is Reckless and Crony-Driven | Benjamin Seevers
Home | Wire | Arkansas' Order to Chinese-Owned Syngenta to Sell Its Farmland in that State Is Reckless and Crony-Driven Arkansas' Order to Chinese-Owned Syngenta to Sell Its Farmland in that State Is Reckless and Crony-Driven Tags Cronyism and CorporatismPoliticsWar and Foreign Policy Citing national security concerns, Arkansas ordered Chinese company Syngenta to sell off the 160 acres of farmland it owns in the state.
Mises Wire
General Topics Austrian School Filter by Title: Sort by: Today Is the Best Day of the Year to Rob a Bank The FedLawMoney and Banks Today, the Fed takes a short break from robbing us via inflation and, instead, delivers huge amounts of cash to banks to service Black Friday purchases. The large cash infusions often make banks vulnerable to robberies.
How Not to Desocialize: Argentina Edition | Benjamin Seevers
Home | Wire | How Not to Desocialize: Argentina Edition How Not to Desocialize: Argentina Edition Tags Economic FreedomPoliticsSocialismWorld History Argentina’s president-elect, Javier Milei, is set on implementing promarket policies, including a vast desocialization, or privatization, of the economy. The privatization of the Argentine airline industry is seemingly first on the agenda (along with privatization of state-owned media).
Mises Wire
General Topics Austrian School Filter by Title: Sort by: America the Obese: How Taxpayers Are Forced to Ruin Their Health Corporate WelfareEconomic PolicyProtectionism and Free TradeU.S. History Since the original sugar tariff of 1789, US government policy has been to subsidize sugar, a policy that has led to serious consequences, including a health crisis of obesity.
The Legacy of Legacy Admissions Is Not What the Critics Claim | Benjamin Seevers
Home | Wire | The Legacy of Legacy Admissions Is Not What the Critics Claim The Legacy of Legacy Admissions Is Not What the Critics Claim Tags EducationMedia and Culture In the aftermath of Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and its companion case, race-based affirmative action is, for the most part, dead. While there are legitimate criticisms of this decision from the Right, the Left has taken the near opposite approach.
Mises Wire
General Topics Austrian School Filter by Title: Sort by: America the Obese: How Taxpayers Are Forced to Ruin Their Health Corporate WelfareEconomic PolicyProtectionism and Free TradeU.S. History Since the original sugar tariff of 1789, US government policy has been to subsidize sugar, a policy that has led to serious consequences, including a health crisis of obesity.
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