The hottest Economic Reform Substack posts right now

Sunday trading laws are outdated and inconvenient, limiting store hours for larger shops while smaller ones have no restrictions. This creates confusion and frustration for shoppers.
The economic impact of liberalizing these laws could be positive, offering flexibility and potentially boosting local economies, even if the growth isn't massive.
The argument that these laws protect small businesses doesn't hold up as many local stores are now part of chains, and allowing longer hours could actually help revive local high streets.

Small wins in housing reform are happening across the U.S., creating some optimism for the future. Even if some local policies aren't ideal, the overall trend seems to be moving in a positive direction.
The concept of 'affordable housing' can sometimes complicate progress. It's important that the focus remains on building more housing overall, rather than getting stuck in bureaucratic definitions that might not help those who need it most.
Changes in rules, like allowing buildings with single staircases or reducing parking requirements, can greatly improve housing availability. Legislative shifts in states like California and Texas show that reforming outdated policies can help meet housing demand.

The U.S. is facing a serious debt crisis, with over $36 trillion in debt. This situation is dangerous and could lead to major economic problems if not addressed soon.
The national debt has grown dramatically due to various factors like wars, tax cuts, and the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s now out of control and not sustainable.
A proposed solution, the Chicago Plan, suggests that the government should only issue money without debt. This could help eliminate most of the national debt and create a more stable economy.

Canada has been improving its housing construction policies, especially for apartments. Now, they're building apartments at a much higher rate than the U.S., which could help address their housing issues.
Successful housing solutions in Canada and Australia focus more on building the right types of homes in urban areas instead of just increasing total construction. This could also be key for improving affordability.
There are concerns about large investors buying up housing in Canada, but the scale is much smaller than in the U.S. It looks like Canada might be facing some similar challenges as the U.S. with rental market pressures.

Land value tax (LVT) is gaining traction worldwide, with countries like South Korea, Wales, and New Zealand considering its implementation.
Cities like Bogota and Saudi Arabia are using innovative tax strategies to encourage land development and discourage land hoarding.
In the U.S., several states are exploring or introducing legislation for land value taxes, indicating a growing interest in this tax approach.

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Land value tax (LVT) is becoming popular in various states in the U.S. as a way to manage property taxes more fairly.
Cities like Baltimore and Spokane are making efforts to adopt LVT to deal with issues like vacant properties and encourage development.
Legislation supporting LVT is being introduced and discussed in places like Minnesota and New York, indicating growing interest in this tax reform.

A Destination-Based Cash Flow Tax (DBCFT) can simplify the tax system by making it easier to track consumption rather than complicated income measurements. This means businesses won't need to navigate through complex deductions and depreciation rules.
Switching to a consumption tax can help encourage saving and investment, making the economy grow better over time. It treats current and future consumption equally, which can make people want to invest more.
Taxes influence how businesses choose to finance themselves, often making debt more attractive than equity. A neutral tax approach would allow businesses to pick the best financing method without extra costs from tax rules.

A three-year fellowship will fund and train early-career people to work full-time on state-level policy reform, with stipends that increase each year and structured programming.
The program prioritizes practical, state-specific deregulation projects—like land use, labor laws, building codes, licensing, and energy—and favors proposals that show a clear path to real implementation rather than just analysis.
Fellows receive mentorship, introductions to officials and media, and can attach to local institutions in later years; applications are open Jan 15–Feb 28 with selections by early summer and the fellowship starting in July 2026.

New Zealand was the first country to adopt inflation targeting as a main goal for its central bank. This goal helped to stabilize prices and became a standard practice worldwide.
The change in monetary policy came from political decisions rather than academic consensus. Roger Douglas, the Finance Minister in the 1980s, publicly set clear inflation goals, leading to a new approach in controlling inflation.
Inflation targeting not only worked well in New Zealand but also influenced many other countries to adopt similar strategies. It helped central banks stabilize inflation expectations and aligned their incentives to minimize political interference in economic decisions.

The US economy is facing serious issues due to high government spending and regulations. If things don't change, the economy could face major problems soon.
There's a lot of waste in government programs that don't get checked properly. This leads to money being spent on unnecessary things instead of building and improving infrastructure.
Regulation and government overspending are hurting states like California. Instead of growth, people are seeing higher taxes, crime, and homelessness.