The Black Death’s Economic ‘Dividend’

The Black Death, the bubonic plague that tore into England in 1348, was — this should not need saying — a cataclysm. The English had little natural immunity to this terrible disease, which arrived in Europe with the Mongols, either making its debut or for the first time in thousands of years. About 80 percent of those infected died. By the end of this first great wave of infection (others were to follow), England, like many other European countries, had lost around half its population…

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Price Controls: Politics and Policy

Price controls are back in the news again. A few weeks ago, President Joe Biden had advocated a form of rent control. Now Vice President Kamala Harris is arguing for a federal ban on “gouging” when it comes to “excessive” increases in the prices of groceries and food products. There is a suspicion that she would like such a law to extend beyond that area, but she may have backtracked on that after earlier criticism. And just what are “excessive” price increases? Doubtless all will be cleared up at Harris’ next press conference…

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