Economic Policy News
The Daily Signal provides economic policy news with reporting, analysis, and commentary on markets, growth, and fiscal responsibility.
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opinion
Why Lower Gas Costs Take Time to Reach the Pump
When crude oil prices drop sharply, why do drivers have to wait for relief at the pump? The answer follows a convoluted and policy-constrained path from drill rigs to local gas stations. The prices we encounter at the pump result from this complex chain, which begins with global crude and passes through refining, wholesale, independent… -
opinion
America at 250: Freedom, Capitalism, and the Future of the American Dream
This article is adapted from Maria Bartiromo’s segment on Fox News “Sunday Morning Futures.” Watch the video. In the history of the world, America has quickly ascended to become the number one global superpower, thanks in large part to capitalism and the rule of law and a Constitution that protects freedom and property. Together, it… -
news
America Is ‘LOSING the Ability to Feed Itself’: Senator Proposes Tariff Bill to Save US Agriculture
Amid domestic economic struggles, Sen. Bill Cassidy announced Thursday that he will introduce a bill to raise tariff quotas on food and agricultural products. The Louisiana Republican’s Home Market Restoration Act of 2026 would raise tariff rates to protect products from his home state such as shrimp, rice, honey, and beef—tariff rates that Congress has… -
opinion
‘ABSOLUTE FARCE’: Board Stacked With Mamdani Allies Passes Large-Scale Rent Freeze in New York City
“The [New York City] Rent Guidelines Board has stopped being a fact-finding body. It has become a body that starts with an answer and vibe codes its way backward to justify it.” That quote was from the resignation letter of Christina Smyth, a now-former member of the New York City Rent Guidelines Board who left… -
opinion
Giving Americans More Choices for Their Retirement Savings
For years, most Americans’ retirement savings plans have been locked out of certain investment choices, including some of the market’s best-performing assets. That makes it harder to save for retirement. Fortunately, though, this is about to change, giving savers new—and better—options for their investments. At issue are not only the many rules and regulations surrounding… -
opinion
The Great Corporate Governance Realignment
Three relatively recent events arguably serve as the most prominent landmarks for the dramatic shift in corporate governance we are currently witnessing. First, after roughly 100 years of essentially unchallenged dominance, Delaware’s role as the undisputed home of corporate charters ran into an iceberg in the form of Elon Musk. On Jan. 30, 2024, a… -
opinion
No Great Expectations for New Jersey’s Businesses
It was the based of times, it was the woke of times, it was the age of candor, it was the age of cant, it was the epoch of sense, it was the epoch of pretense. And it was the season when firms started moving from high-tax, high-cost blue states to freedom-loving red states. ExxonMobil’s… -
news
A New Congressional Plan to Save $1.5 Trillion and End Abortion Funding
The Heritage Foundation released its version of Reconciliation 3.0, a new plan to end federal funding for abortion, combat fraud, and save America $1.5 trillion. The leading conservative policy institute on Wednesday unveiled “Setting the American Opportunity Agenda,” a special budget and spending report for Congress, and House Speaker Mike Johnson said he is ready… -
opinion
Restoring Affordability Starts With Modernizing America’s Freight Network
Americans are still reeling from years of inflation and supply chain disruption. Families are paying more than ever before for groceries, appliances, vehicles, and countless everyday goods. Washington talks constantly about affordability, but one of the most practical ways to lower costs rarely gets enough attention: making it cheaper and faster to move products across… -
opinion
The Replication Crisis and ESG’s Throne of Lies
“The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they’re ignorant; it’s just that they know so much that isn’t so.” -Ronald Reagan, “A Time for Choosing” For more than two decades now, a handful of academics, led by John Ioannidis, a professor of medicine at Stanford University, have been documenting what has come to… -
opinion
It’s on Us to Choose How to Use Our Freedom
Coincident with the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the American Declaration of Independence is the 250th anniversary of the publication of “The Wealth of Nations.” The full title of Scotsman Adam Smith’s book, published in 1776, is “An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.” One might… -
news
The Newest Antitrust Fight: Congress Works to Protect This ‘Wild and Unruly’ Billion-Dollar Industry
A new bipartisan bill is set to be introduced in the Senate next week as the federal government steps in to protect college sports, athletes, fans, and women’s sports. Congress is acting with the first governance and revenue bill of its kind. The Senate Commerce Committee, chaired by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, announced it has… -
opinion
Netflix-WB Deal: Not Dead Yet?
In late January, the Oversight Project released “Fedflix,” an interim report about Netflix’s suspicious relationship with law enforcement and the intelligence community. Our report highlighted how Netflix has a board of directors largely made up of highly partisan Democrat operatives and donors; pushes programming with LGBTQ+ content to children; and produces content that has been… -
opinion
Powell’s Federal Reserve Mess Is Now Warsh’s Problem
New Chair of the Federal Reserve Kevin Warsh walks straight into a professional buzzsaw. Though he now occupies one of the most influential and prestigious posts in America—and indeed the world—his daunting assignment may be among the most difficult in government in recent decades. The difficulty of Warsh’s task flows first from the abject failures… -
opinion
Bob Woodson Lived a Life Dedicated to the Least, the Last, and the Lost
Robert L. “Bob” Woodson passed away earlier this week at the age of 89, leaving behind a rich legacy of faith, service, and patriotism. Born in Philadelphia, Woodson and his four siblings were raised by their mother after his father died when he was nine. He quit high school at 17 and joined the Air… -
opinion
After Years of Weaponizing Shareholder Voting, Will the Big Three Escape Accountability?
Are investors in “passive” index funds being misled about how shares held in those funds are being voted? After providing some relevant background below, I argue that failing to properly disclose the active voting of passive fund shares could violate consumer protection provisions, anti-fraud provisions, or other related provisions covering deceptive practices. When it comes… -
exclusive
Sen. Rick Scott Pushes Bill to Ban Chinese Digital Currency in US Transactions
FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., on Thursday reintroduced legislation that would prohibit U.S.-based money services businesses from using central bank digital currencies issued by the Communist Party of China, including the digital yuan. If enacted, the Chinese CBDC Prohibition Act would prohibit money services businesses from engaging in any transaction that involves… -
opinion
Getting Back to Business: The Buttonwood Agreement on the Eve of America’s 250th Birthday
This week marks the anniversary of one of the most consequential yet least celebrated moments in American economic history. On May 17, 1792, 24 merchants, brokers, and auctioneers gathered at 68 Wall Street in New York and signed a concise, two-sentence agreement under a buttonwood tree. In plain language, they pledged to trade public stocks… -
opinion
The End May Be Nigh for Automakers’ Monopoly on Car Repair Data
Think you own that new car you just bought? Not all of it. As many Americans are learning, Automakers own their data, and they’re trying to dictate who can fix the vehicle when something breaks or even when it just needs regular maintenance. It’s a way to force car and truck owners into expensive dealerships… -
opinion
Study Examines Whether Advanced Degrees Are Worth Costs
The Left believes there is a contrived war on higher education. However, recent analysis counters that claim by showing that there is an economic disadvantage for many Americans taking on the cost of an advanced degree. The analysis has now landed firmly on the conclusion that much advanced education is a rigged game. This is…