Posted on Jeudi 30 avril 2009
Obama’s Toast to France: Just Say Non [Veronique de Rugy]
On Tuesday, the Brookings Institution has an event on the topic « Is American the New France? » It seems that this question has been in the air for while.
In this new video, co-produced by the Center for Freedom and Prosperity and Reason TV, I argue that it would be a terrible idea for the United States to become the next France, a land of high taxes, regulation, and government spending. Contrary to what the elite opinion might think, these policies do not guarantee a glass of wine at every meal. However, they do hold the promise of low economic growth, higher unemployment rates, and lower standards of living.
What’s more, as George Mason University economist Dan Klein — who lives part of the time in Sweden — rightfully told me recently, “Not only is France/Sweden not doing so great but: THERE ARE BIG DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THOSE COUNTRIES AND THE U.S. Those differences mean that bad policies in France or Sweden are less destructive there than they would be here. The successes of those countries are achieved not because of interventionist policies, but in spite of them.”







Corbis

