Wealth & Poverty Review

printing-us-dollar-bills-concept-of-united-states-economy-bu-217463754-stockpack-adobestock
Printing US dollar bills. Concept of United States economy, buying and selling banknotes in the worldwide. Global finance and business.
Image Credit: ktsdesign - Adobe Stock

Lawrence Lepard Predicts “The Big Print”

The 2020 period, in which central banks around the world engaged in unprecedented monetary expansion, showed their increasing willingness to essentially “run the printing presses” whenever things got tough. Unfortunately, along the way, they also showed Congress (and other governments worldwide) that no real discipline is needed, because every problem can ultimately be solved with the central bank printing press. Read More ›
ride-the-amtrak-passenger-train-through-lush-michigan-landsc-682838917-stockpack-adobestock
Ride the Amtrak passenger train through lush Michigan landscapes from Chicago, Illinois to Detroit, Michigan.
Image Credit: Sandris_ua - Adobe Stock

The Failure of Subsidizing AMTRAK and How to Make Passenger Trains Profitable Again

We are publishing this paper volunteered by J.D. Wong, a Georgia businessman, that makes a strong, well-researched case that government subsidies for Amtrak should be terminated. In his opinion, only a couple of long distance train routes are potentially sustainable, and that a reliance on standard rail cars, rather than sleeper cars, is a business mistake that mainly reflects political influence. Read More ›
piles-of-rare-earth-elements-mined-and-refined-stockpack-ado-1150262799-stockpack-adobestock
Piles Of Rare Earth Elements Mined And Refined
Image Credit: Ruby Stock - Adobe Stock

With Sovereign Wealth Fund, Trump Seeks to Strengthen Nation

There is no greater betrayal by the U.S. government than failing to protect the safety and security of the American people. But this, in fact, was the case prior to Trump, because Washington abdicated its responsibility to protect and develop all-important rare earth elements that are critically necessary in the production of high-tech military weapons systems, like F-16, F-22 and F-35 jet fighters, drones, and AI-driven systems. Rather, the U.S. has become dependent on China. Read More ›
investment-strategies-illuminating-financial-growth-with-coi-1167645630-stockpack-adobestock
Investment strategies illuminating financial growth with coins and light bulbs
Image Credit: krit - Adobe Stock

Information Economics: George Gilder’s “Life After Capitalism”

What underpins this understanding of economics is what George Gilder calls the "materialist superstition." From the capitalism of Adam Smith and David Ricardo to the socialism of Karl Marx, classical economics to socialist economics rest on the assumed pillar of Newtonian determinism and static materialism. There is also only so much matter to go around, the materialist superstition has us believe, therefore, no amount of incentives and technological innovation can avoid the fact that we will run out of material goods. Read More ›
brexit-concept-double-exposure-of-flag-and-westminster-palac-238240030-stockpack-adobestock
brexit concept - double exposure of flag and Westminster Palace with Big Ben
Image Credit: Melinda Nagy - Adobe Stock

On Free Trade, Let’s Go All the Way with the U.K.

The trade deal with Great Britain, unveiled last Thursday, was a definite step in the right direction, but the next steps for the U.S. should take us closer to going all the way to full free trade with the U.K. Dr. Stephen Meyer, Director of Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture, has been arguing for this for decades, going back to when he was a graduate student in the philosophy of science at Cambridge University Read More ›
piles-of-refined-rare-earth-elements-from-mining-activities-894975996-stockpack-adobestock
Piles of refined rare earth elements from mining activities: mining techniques, mineral refinement, aggregation of elements, industry procedures
Image Credit: Livinskiy - Adobe Stock

How Trump Can Simultaneously Strengthen America’s Financials and Its National Security

As with the production of lithium and cobalt, which power electric vehicles, China also controls most of the global rare earth supply chain, including mining, processing, and refining. At present, the U.S. has only one operational rare earths mine. But we can't process heavy rare earths, so we send the mine's ore to China for processing. Read More ›
saving-energy-and-money-concept-idea-for-save-or-investment-444918927-stockpack-adobestock
saving energy and money concept. idea for save or investment. businessman holding lightbulb beside piggy bank and coins stacking on desk with note book.
Image Credit: Looker_Studio - Adobe Stock

The Virtues of the “Knowledge Theory of Value”

Kevin Hoover suggests that William Nordhaus relied on the labor theory of value in his paper on light (Letters, April 24). Yet Nordhaus actually used knowledge, not labor. He offered a method to measure innovation: the discovery and sharing of valuable new knowledge. Nordhaus measured the amount of knowledge per unit of time and observed that knowledge about light was growing exponentially, surpassing traditional measures of economic development. It is the time price over time that truly deserves our attention. Read More ›
P20250402AM-0738
President Donald J. Trump signs an Executive Order on on the Administration’s tariff plans at a “Make America Healthy Again” event, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in the White House Rose Gardent. (Official White House Photo by Abe McNatt)
Image from the White House at Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_White_House_-_54426179977.jpg

Tariffs Done Wrong

Economic Nationalism, done right, could work very well for the United States in coming decades. The most glorious period for US business, before 1913, was a time of high tariffs and controlled immigration. But, it was also a time when there was no Income Tax; and, in this pre-Federal Reserve era, the money was fixed to gold. The result was very good. The United States, at first a promising “emerging market,” ended up a global superpower. Read More ›
mosaic-ceiling-of-the-florence-baptistery-italy-stockpack-ad-84785872-stockpack-adobestock
Mosaic ceiling of the Florence Baptistery, Italy
Image Credit: Eve81 - Adobe Stock

How Easter Transformed the World Like Nothing Else Ever Could

Across cultures throughout human history, people have sought to flee oppression and escape persecution. A recurring theme in Western literature and in modern classics such as Superman and Disney originals, which revolve around the struggle between good and evil, is the need and critical role for a rescuer or savior. Read More ›