New @FREOPP: In response to the theory that there are only 6,000 #COVID19 deaths in the U.S., we published an updated version of our international comparison of pandemic performance (part of our World Index of Healthcare Innovation project). The scorecard: freopp.org/measuring-covi…
The best way to compare mortality across countries is to look at excess deaths: mortality from all causes this year vs. the non-pandemic average. Not every country reports these stats, but the U.S. does: 214,812 excess deaths as of Aug 28, or 657 per million residents.
Of the countries that report excess deaths, quite a few are in the U.S.'s ballpark, including France, Sweden, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Spain, UK. The last 4 are somewhat higher than the U.S., the first 4 somewhat lower. Norway and Israel stand out as top performers.
The advantage of looking at excess deaths is that it eliminates the possibility that countries are counting deaths differently (e.g., deaths "with" #COVID19 vs. deaths from COVID19). On the other hand, excess mortality may also incorporate deaths from lockdowns & other policies.
As a reminder, our international rankings of pandemic performance also take into account the stringency of countries' lockdowns (a higher score = more stringent lockdowns), along with the relative economic isolation or integration of countries (a higher score = more integration).
Countries that see a lot more international travel in and out of the country, for example, are more susceptible to global pandemics. Also: different parts of the world have experienced different strains of the coronavirus with different virulence: freopp.org/measuring-covi…
One argument I hear is that the vast majority of deaths are happening in medically vulnerable elderly. So, some ask: what was the prior life expectancy of those individuals? Were they near death's door anyway? Excess mortality stats in the 2021-25 timeframe will help assess that.
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A week ago, popular Substacker @HC_Richardson reiterated the widely held—but factually flawed—view of most on the left that wealthy Americans don't pay their "fair share" of taxes, and that we can fix this problem by adopting European tax policies. (1/x)
@HC_Richardson (2/x) It's true that OECD countries generally have higher tax burdens than the U.S. does. But they don't do it by taxing the rich more—but by taxing the *middle class* more through payroll & consumption taxes. U.S. depends much *more* on progressive income taxes.
@HC_Richardson (3/x) In your typical EU country, the VAT tax (somewhat comparable to US sales taxes) is 21%. That's what pays for EU welfare states. The lowest standard VAT rate in Europe is Luxembourg's, at 16%. taxfoundation.org/data/all/globa…
THREAD: I'm honored to announce today the publication of the Freedom Conservatism Statement of Principles, signed by over 80 leaders of the liberty movement. Its core idea is this: the thing that has made America great is *freedom*. freedomconservatism.org/p/freedom-cons…
As you know, more and more people on the left and the right reject the importance of liberty. Some of these people call themselves "national conservatives" even though they reject the American political tradition in favor of...Hungary's? Forget that.
The Freedom Conservatism statement of takes inspiration from the Sharon Statement, signed by a group of young conservatives at the home of William F. Buckley, Jr., in 1960. (Buckley, the founder @NRO, built the postwar American conservative movement.) yaf.org/news/the-sharo…
(1/x) Natcons claim to speak for The People™, and not the "cocktail-party class," on all issues but especially immigration. Strangely, however, the views expressed by natcons at cocktail parties don't reflect those of the American public, especially wrt legal immigration.
(2/x) Natcons are not only critics of illegal immigration, but of *legal* immigration, seeking "much more restrictive policies" and even a "moratorium." But only 33% of *Rs* support reducing legal immigration. 61% say it should stay the same or increase. pewresearch.org/politics/2018/…
(3/x) And, as a reminder, Republicans are a minority of the voting public. Overall, only 24% of Americans support reducing legal immigration. 32% support increasing it, and 38% want it to stay the same. Reducing legal immigration is, in fact, an anti-populist position.
Climate & energy policy debates in the U.S. & elsewhere focus a lot on how to reduce & constrict U.S. energy use (because wind & solar can't meet current U.S. energy needs; in 2022, renewable capacity is 311 GW out of 1145 GW total).
But almost no one talks about how renewables alone are going to meet *future* U.S. energy demand. @EIAGov projects that by 2050, U.S. generating capacity will have to increase by 57% just to meet demand from population & economic growth, electric cars, etc.
In a new paper for @FREOPP, "The Urgency of Rethinking U.S. Nuclear Energy Regulation," @grantadever walks through why nuclear is the only path to a lower-carbon world with affordable, reliable, accessible energy. So what's the holdup? freopp.org/rethinking-u-s…
According to my sources, the SEC/DOJ "investigation" of @ElonMusk is timed to thwart his bid for @Twitter. Normally, in the absence of a better offer, Twitter's board is effectively obligated by its fiduciary duty to shareholders to accept Musk's offer. If true, it's scandalous.
@elonmusk@Twitter (By "if true" I mean, if true that the investigation is an effort to thwart the acquisition.)
Elon has several options if the board uses the excuse of the SEC/DOJ investigation to reject his offer. For example, he can attempt to go directly to the shareholders (which, again, works in the absence of a better offer). Not sure whether he is willing to, though.
This @bgmasters campaign ad pretty much crystallizes @FREOPP scholars' work on the rising cost of living: housing, healthcare, education are the biggest drivers.