Mercatus Center

1 week ago | mercatus.org | Tyler Cowen

The Conventional Wisdom Is That China Is Beating Us. Nonsense. One of the biggest soft power victories in all of world history occurred over the last few years. Hardly anyone has noticed. Even before Trump’s “Liberation Day” and the market volatility it ushered in, a deep pessimism had already set in among the pointy-headed class of which I am a reluctant member.

2 weeks ago | mercatus.org | Veronique de Rugy

While a handful of tax provisions correct for distortions introduced in the tax code—for example, the double taxation of investment and savings—most tax expenditures distort markets, raise prices, favor special groups, or violate the principle of tax neutrality. Eliminating tax expenditures should be combined with lowering marginal tax rates across the board to avoid increasing the tax burden on the economy as a whole.

3 weeks ago | mercatus.org | Emily Hamilton

Re: Hearing on March 4, 2025, entitled “Building Our Future: Increasing Housing Supply in America” Dear Chairman Hill: After my testimony before the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance on March 4, 2025, you requested answers to one question submitted by Congresswoman Garcia and two questions submitted by Ranking Member Waters. The questions and answers are below.

3 weeks ago | mercatus.org | Alden Abbott

Abstract: The rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology has raised concerns that a few large companies or digital platforms will corner the market. By controlling vast troves of data necessary to train foundation models, these firms could raise entry barriers, stifle competition and innovation, and ultimately harm consumers.

1 month ago | mercatus.org | Emily Hamilton

Thank you, Chair Flood, Ranking Member Cleaver, and members of the subcommittee. I am Emily Hamilton, a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, where I am codirector of the Urbanity Project. Housing affordability is a serious and growing problem for too many Americans. While the share of households that are renters has remained relatively steady for several decades, the share of income that the median renter spends on rent has increased by 25 percent since 1980.