Socialism is often associated with humanity and equality. On the other hand, we present capitalism as fueling greed and injustice. How baseless this claim is, is best shown by the example of Germany. In a period of 28 years, one country and its capital was divided, ruled by two governments, and organized with two completely...
Editor’s note: This piece is penned by Dr. David Friedman, an American economist who will be the March 16 keynote speaker at the Northwood University Freedom Seminar. All societies face the coordination problem: In order to do anything complicated you have to somehow get millions of people to coordinate their activities. To make automobiles you need...
Most of us use the words “freedom” and “liberty” as synonyms, though the freedom to send their child to whatever school they think best” probably sounds better than “Parents should have the liberty to…” However, when we start to think about that particular statement, differences between the two words become apparent. To be free usually...
The United States Declaration of Independence was not yet six months old when George Washington and his Continental Army found themselves crossing the Delaware River from Pennsylvania to New Jersey in late December to do battle against British and Hessian German soldiers at what became known as the Battle of Trenton. In fact, Washington and...
The United States and most of the rest of the world are, once again, in the midst of an inflationary crisis. Prices in general are rising at annualized rates not experienced by, especially, the industrialized countries of North America and Europe for well over 40 years. More than 50 percent of the U.S. population is...
The United States Declaration of Independence was not yet six months old when George Washington and his Continental Army found themselves crossing the Delaware River from Pennsylvania to New Jersey in late December to do battle against British and Hessian German soldiers at what became known as the Battle of Trenton. In fact, Washington and...
I favor the policy of economy, not because I wish to save money, but because I wish to save people. The men and women of this country who toil are the ones who bear the cost of the Government. Every dollar that we carelessly waste means that their life will be so much the more...
All Northwood students are invited to submit an essay on the following topic: Censorship, Fake News and Viewpoint Discrimination: What is the role of the government versus market forces in enabling free and responsible speech? Currently enrolled Northwood University undergraduate students and Northwood University DeVos School Graduate School students are eligible to participate in the...
Introduction Recent polls from Fox News, The New York Times, and others indicate the November mid-term elections will turn on two major issues: inflation and the economy, and crime rates. These polls seem to show Republicans with a better than even chance of taking both the House and Senate as the majority of Americans blame...
History teaches us that free market economies have lifted people out of poverty around the world. One of their earmarks is competition; yet monopolies persist and co-exist with free markets in various ways. Using a case study of John D. Rockefeller and Standard Oil, Lawrence W. Reed will illuminate the pros and cons of monopolies...
As the Reformation took hold throughout Europe, much ink and blood was spilt over the question of what is right to do when the government is wrong. As a movement that challenged Roman Catholic civil authorities and established Protestant ones, the Reformation prompted many occasions to consider the who, what, when, and why of disobeying,...
Quick! Think of a classic, unique-to-Northwood class. Chances are the first philosophy course you took and reading essays in “When We Are Free” come to mind. That foundational class (Philosophy of American Life and Business) introduces NU students to the importance of freedom and free enterprise to human progress and prosperity, as well as to...
Suppose that one evening as the sun was setting and dusk was settling in, a strange mist fell over the United States that resulted in the entire population of the country, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, falling into a deep and restful sleep. Similarly, as evening settled in across the Russian Federation, the same...
Robert Chatfield, president and CEO of the Free to Choose Network, will be visiting Midland, Michigan, on Tuesday, Oct. 11, as part of Northwood University’s Omniquest program. Omniquest is a university-wide program in which a committee selects a provocative and challenging book each semester. The book’s theme is then adopted for discussion and analysis during...