I posted on the NCFCA policy topic, asking how refugee camps could be reformed or transformed to allow more economic freedom. Could refugee camps be Startup Cities. Lincoln-Douglas debaters might be suspicious of a LD...
For students researching Middle East policy, this fascinating July 4th NYT article is highly recommended: Refugee Camp for Syrians in Jordan Evolves as a Do-It-Yourself City. The Zaatari Refugee Camp, now home for over 85,000...
Lincoln-Douglas debaters are exploring the new NCFCA topic: Resolved: In the realm of economics, freedom ought to be valued above equity. That exploration leads into the realm of economics. It’s sort of like exploring Narnia where...
The revised wording for the 2014-2015 NCFCA Lincoln-Douglas topic is: Resolved: In the realm of economics, freedom ought to be valued above equity. The topics’ original wording was: Resolved: Economic freedom ought to be...
Religions are blamed for much turmoil in the Middle East. If only people could all just get along and not turn to violence to convert those of other faiths, argue the critics. In reality,...
In this 2012 interview Hernando de Soto explains how his ILD team was drawn into economic research in the Middle East. DeSoto’s discussion of legal institutions and elites and how they obstruct economic reform and...
Summer in Seattle shines wonderfully warm and leaves most mornings and evenings still cool. Spring and fall usher in clouds and drizzle, but it’s summer now. I was born here and elated to move...
The previous post started with a discussion of potential benefits from a “soft partition” policy for Iraq. Iraq is half-way there (or one-third?) with the soft partition of Kurdish territories. An semiautonomous Sunni territory...
Improved Kurdish relations with Turkey are good news for the Middle East and for oil consumers. Consider this June 23rd article on Kurdish oil being sold to Israel: Area historically inhabited by Kurds. (Photo...
If it matters, measure it. The Fraser Institute has long worked with a network of think tanks around the world to measure economic freedom, country by country. Market economists claim that improving economic freedom...
