economy
January 28, 2026
Partisans of the world unite
In Focus delivers deeper coverage of the political, cultural, and ideological issues shaping America. Published daily by senior writers and experts, these in-depth pieces go beyond the headlines to give readers the full picture. You can find our full list of In Focus pieces here.
TL;DR
- Politicians often resort to demonizing bankers and corporations when polling poorly.
- President Trump has proposed policies like interest rate caps and taxing foreign goods, which are described as socialistic.
- The idea that greedy capitalists control the economy is a persistent conspiracy theory that is economically nonsensical.
- Capping interest rates could reduce credit availability for those who need it most, such as low-income individuals and small businesses.
- Price fixing displaces costs rather than alleviating them, often leading to price increases elsewhere or service reductions.
- Interference in markets like healthcare, tuition, child care, and housing has led to price spikes and reduced competition.
- Free markets, despite their imperfections, are presented as the most effective system for poverty reduction.
- The author suggests that populist pandering through economic controls is likely to backfire.
Continue reading the original article