Thread by @ideafaktory

Good #economics debate among @oren_cass @benshapiro @EricRWeinstein on what if market capitalism can no longer produce marriageable men & stable family formation. Is there a case for intervention...presuming we can identify root causes.

Start here:

https://twitter.com/benshapiro/status/1084876431870418945

Then:

https://twitter.com/oren_cass/status/1084973559393513475

Some causes of male wage/family breakdown:
-⬆️education/housing/healthcare
-⬇️skilled jobs, ⬆️ low wage services
-⬆️women in workforce👉wage competition, ⬆️supply
-divorce law disincentives
-mass incarceration of black men
-adverse public assistance incentives
-⬆️lifestyle choice

Interesting to note many of these are self-inflicted: direct byproducts of policies we enacted.
-loss of manufacturing jobs expedited by free trade agreements
-incarceration, divorce & welfare laws adverse consequences
-Fannie/Freddie/health tax breaks created massive distortions

Unfortunately, unwinding past interventions, alone, can't reverse decades of decay. Too much breaks along the way. New habits and behaviors set in. People change. Economic realities ossify. Expectations get re-set.

Kickstarting change requires 4 things:
1) hope: men have to believe a better life is within reach
2) opportunity: existence of legit jobs, ways to contribute
3) tools: education, skills, rehab
4) motivation: ultimately every man must do the work. Attraction follows self-respect.

1) Hope demands leaders w/vision who inspire
2) Opportunity is market dynamism + smart public investment
3) Local govt working with companies can get right tools to right people
4) Motivation is YOU; high expectations, mentors, being held accountable by someone you respect helps