John Tamny

The history books are filled with mistaken assumptions about not just the causes of the Great Depression, but also what got us out. Much the same describes the early explanations of 2008 and the difficult recession that followed. This talk will simplify what has been made opaque, while showing that all three major economic events were wholly unnatural effects of bad bipartisan policy error from Washington, D.C.

Modern economists act as though economic growth is mysterious and hard to achieve. In fact, nothing could be easier than economic growth. It’s as simple as getting four basic inputs—taxes, regulation, trade and monetary policy—correct. This talk will describe the basics to growth, and then apply them to the present economy to show what is holding it back when it’s slow, and what’s causing it to boom when the economy is soaring.

Though wealth inequality is viewed in a pejorative light by many economists, and most members of the political and pundit class, it's reality is a great deal better than most realize. As the talk reveals, rising inequality signals a falling gap in the standard of living experienced by the rich and poor, greater opportunity for the individuals who comprise any economy to pursue the path in life that most animates their talent, and a rising base of capital that will be redistributed from the rich to the companies of today and the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

The tight relationship between Washington and Wall Street is mutually destructive for both. “It’s the economy, stupid” says politics, and yet, the close link between finance and government restrains economic growth by virtue of it politicizing investment. Worse, the ties between finance and government make the bailouts of troubled financial institutions much more likely. The latter greatly weaken the financial sector, all the while inflaming an electorate that views bailouts as evidence of favoritism. This talk will show why the popularity and health of Wall Street and Washington will soar if the two create major distance between themselves.