Essays & News

  The Mischaracterization of Education as a Merit Good Garret Thomas Molloy ABSTRACT This essay advances three claims (1) The current provision of public education characterizes education as a merit good. This characterization motivates state intervention to correct for merit good’s characteristics of positive externalities and consumer uncertainty (2) The provision of free public education […]

The Public-Private Paradox of Education: Merit Good or Negative Externality? Patrick Tecklenburg ABSTRACT This essay explores education`s multifaceted role as a private, a public and a merit good, with an intertwined reflection on its historical evolution and modern-day relevance. From its origins as a privilege, mainly only affordable by the elite to the widespread vision […]

Is education a public or a private good? Who gains from being educated? Olivia Liane Opitz   ABSTRACT This article examines whether education should be considered a private or public good and analyses the impact of both approaches on individuals and society. An equitable and accessible education system promotes social cohesion, economic stability and innovation. […]

  In Germany, during Angela Merkel’s 16-year tenure, we witnessed a strategic shift of the Christian Democrats towards socialism to capture voters from the left. Ms. Merkel masterfully marketed her politics of stagnation as stability. The result was steady decline, culminating in the dysfunctional coalition between the Social Democrats, Greens and Liberals. Infrastructure is now […]

  Tariffs are among President Trump’s most controversial initiatives. Yes, tariffs – those deplorable taxes that apply to all, benefit few, and are despised universally by every living economist and approximately 99% of the dead ones. Across the major schools of economic thought, economists (notoriously) agree on little. Tariffs are one of the few exceptions. […]