Civitas Outlook
Topic
Economic Dynamism
Published on
June 19, 2025
Contributors
Richard Epstein

Richard Epstein: Law and Economics of Public Sector Unions

This video podcast was originally published by the Commonwealth Foundation.

Renowned legal scholar Richard A. Epstein joins David Osborne to dissect the legal foundations and economic consequences of public sector unionization. From the early days of private labor unions to the rise of government unions, Epstein explains how collective bargaining has evolved—and why public sector collective bargaining, in his view, breach the public trust. They explore everything from the antitrust roots of union restrictions to Roosevelt’s and Kennedy’s diverging views on public unions, the fallout of the Janus decision, and why many reforms fall short. If you care about the future of labor policy, this episode is a must-listen.

Next up
 Why the Damage to Fed Independence May Have Already Been Done

Why the Damage to Fed Independence May Have Already Been Done

Jul 24, 2025
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Can the U.S. Defense Industrial Base Meet Today’s Challenges?

Can the U.S. Defense Industrial Base Meet Today’s Challenges?

May 13, 2025
1:35:10
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Economic Dynamism

AI and the Future of Society and Economy

Large language and generative AI models like ChatGPT are the equivalent of the first automobiles: fun to play with, somewhat unreliable, and maybe a little dangerous. But over time, the lesson for will be clear: Who Learns Fastest, Wins.

Joel Kotkin, Marshall Toplansky
Economic Dynamism
Jul 17, 2025
Automated Detection of Emotion in Central Bank Communication: A Warning

Can LLMs help us better understand the role of emotion in central bank communication?

Carola Binder, Nicole Baerg
Economic Dynamism
Jul 1, 2025
Defending Technological Dynamism & the Freedom to Innovate in the Age of AI

Human flourishing, economic growth, and geopolitical resilience requires innovation—especially in artificial intelligence.

Adam Thierer
Economic Dynamism
Jun 6, 2025
Partisan Trust in the Federal Reserve

This paper examines partisanship in public perceptions of the Federal Reserve.

Carola Binder, Cody Couture, Abhiprerna Smit
Economic Dynamism
Apr 22, 2025
How We Built the Arsenal of Democracy

By unleashing the energy, creativity, and drive of the private sector to rebuild our defense-industrial base, we can trigger a tech-industrial revival of the American economy.

Arthur Herman
Economic Dynamism
Jul 25, 2025
The $130 Billion Train That Couldn’t

California’s High Speed Rail is only the latest blue-state infrastructure failure.

Joel Kotkin
Economic Dynamism
Jul 21, 2025
Students from China Are Essential for America

An appropriately curated student visa policy in vital research fields like AI and quantum can combine careful risk management with common sense. The benefits to the U.S. will last for generations.

Arthur Herman, Christopher Monroe
Economic Dynamism
Jul 8, 2025
Firm Investment and the User Cost of Capital: New U.S. Corporate Tax Reform Evidence

This working paper analyzes the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 to examine how corporate tax reform impacts rates of investment.

Jonathan S. Hartley, Kevin A. Hassett, Joshua D. Rauh
Economic Dynamism
Jul 7, 2025
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Why the Damage to Fed Independence May Have Already Been Done

Economic Dynamism
Jul 24, 2025
1:05

Can the U.S. Defense Industrial Base Meet Today’s Challenges?

Economic Dynamism
May 13, 2025
1:05

Virginia Postrel and Adam Thierer on Big Trends and Big Ideas in Dynamism

Economic Dynamism
Apr 29, 2025
1:05

Joel Mokyr on American Dynamism vs. Techno-pessimism

Economic Dynamism
Apr 29, 2025
1:05

Arthur Herman on Mobility, Markets, and Natural Law

Economic Dynamism
Apr 29, 2025
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The Fictions Holding Down the Economy

When crises from statist economic policies happen, “the actions that are taken depend on the ideas that are lying around.”

Dominic Pino
Economic Dynamism
Aug 7, 2025
The Fed Has Gone Adrift—It’s Time to End The Bureaucratic Mission Creep

The Federal Reserve must do less—and do it better.

Jon Hartley
Economic Dynamism
Aug 5, 2025
The AI Reaper Isn't Coming

Supervisors and workers must monitor, regulate, and restrict AI autonomy, much like we would with any powerful organization run by humans that we don't fully trust.

Rachel Lomasky
Economic Dynamism
Aug 5, 2025
When Will America Max Out the National Credit Card?

Rather than responsibly consider debt before it is issued, both political parties wish to eliminate the need to ever think about our nation’s debt again.

David Hebert
Economic Dynamism
Aug 4, 2025
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