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FRASER INSIGHT
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Issue 55 | Spring 2020
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Welcome back to Fraser Insight, the Fraser Institute’s U.S. newsletter. With a number of fresh outputs from The Realities of Socialism [[link removed]] project, our In Focus section is the highlight of this spring issue of Insight.
At the other end of the spectrum, our In Context shares alarming news about the recent arson attack targeting our friends at the Center of the American Experiment, a longtime member of the EFNA Network [[link removed]].
Finally, the In Print section, as always, features an interesting mix of essays covering everything from ESG to LNG.
We encourage you to share Insight with friends and colleagues by inviting them to sign up for Insight here [[link removed]]. Visit our website [[link removed]], which serves as a storehouse for cogent commentary [[link removed]] and in-depth analysis [[link removed]]—all from a free-market perspective. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) [[link removed]]. Join us on Facebook [[link removed]]. And check out the In Touch section for more contact info.
In Print: Commentary and Review
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New Socialist Man Was a Selfish Corrupt Cheat [[link removed]]
Fraser Blog
The new socialist man was not the selfless creature of Marxist writing. He was a grifter who had no choice but to make his way by cheating the rest of society, just as the rest of society cheated him.
Myth-Busting Will Help Accelerate ESG Retreat [[link removed]]
Fraser Blog
The ESG movement may be popular, but careful reading on the topic reveals that many points made in its favor are not supported by evidence. That may be one reason the ESG tide is retreating.
Western Societies Must Stop the Spread of Marxism [[link removed]]
Financial Post
Marxist doctrine spreads because the “oppressed” gain instant status and power without the need for personal virtues or accomplishments. The idea holds appeal but only to our most selfish instincts.
Two Places Called Eagle Pass—U.S. Could Learn from Canadian History [[link removed]]
Financial Post
There are two places in North America named Eagle Pass—one in British Columbia and one in Texas. Both are small and nondescript, yet both witnessed historic events where the life of a country stood in the balance.
U.S. Halt on LNG Exports Presents New Opportunity for Canada [[link removed]]
National Newswatch
The Biden administration recently paused the approval of permits for liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, which will force U.S. allies to explore alternative sources of LNG, opening the door for Canada. If Canadian policymakers remove certain regulatory hurdles, they can position Canada as a leading global provider of clean and reliable natural gas.
James Gwartney Helped Make the World More Free and Prosperous [[link removed]]
Fraser Blog
There are obviously a number of key people responsible for the Economic Freedom of the World project, starting with Michael Walker and the Friedmans. But everyone linked with the project acknowledges Jim Gwartney’s key contributions in developing and then annually calculating the index. Thanks in large part to him, the index is taught in development-economics courses around the world and is used by governments to mark their progress toward freer and more prosperous societies.
In Focus: Research and Analysis
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The Road to Socialism and Back: An Economic History of Poland, 1939-2019 [[link removed]]
This installment of the Realities of Socialism project documents the wide chasm between the lofty goals of socialist ideology and the realities experienced by the Polish people. The authors also show that while the transition back from a socialist to a mixed economy was not without pain, it did unleash the extraordinary productive power of the Polish people, allowing their standard of living to rise at more than twice the rate of growth that prevailed during the socialist era.
The Mirage of Swedish Socialism: The Economic History of a Welfare State [[link removed]]
This package of products details what Sweden is—and more importantly what it is not—when it comes to its economic system and history. Despite the mischaracterizations of the country, after experimenting with socialist policies in the 1970s and 1980s (with disastrous results), Sweden actually has a long history of being a free, open and competitive economy.
Perspectives on Capitalism and Socialism: Polling Results from Canada, the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom [[link removed]]
One major objective of this study of survey data is to better understand perceptions of—and support for—capitalism and socialism, as well as how attitudes towards capitalism and socialism differ across age groups, particularly those of respondents under age 35 compared to older respondents. Support for capitalism among those aged 18 to 34 is at best tepid outside of the United States. The United States shows a net positive level of support for capitalism as the ideal economic system among those in this age group, with 52 percent in agreement versus 33 percent in disagreement.
Meritocracy, Personal Responsibility and Encouraging Investment: Lessons from Singapore’s Economic Growth Miracle [[link removed]]
This installment of the Realities of Socialism documents the stunning economic rise of tiny Singapore since gaining independence in 1965, and examines how it is able to provide many of the same social services that Western governments provide—health care, retirement, housing, education, unemployment—but with much smaller government and lower costs.
Realities of Socialism Podcast: Estonia [[link removed]]
Dr. Peter Boettke, director of the F.A. Hayek Program at George Mason University and co-author of The Road to Socialism and Back [[link removed]], joins host Rosemarie Fike to discuss what life was like in Estonia under socialist rule.
In Context: News and Events
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EFNA Network Member Victim of Arson Attack
The offices of the Center of the American Experiment, a Minnesota-based free market think tank and longtime member of Fraser’s EFNA Network [[link removed]], were recently targeted in an apparent arsonist attack [[link removed]]. Thankfully, no one was injured. However, the attack [[link removed]] did extensive damage to the center’s offices and the offices of other like-minded organizations, while leaving other businesses untouched, which suggests a political motivation for the attack.
“They targeted conservative organizations,” said John Hinderaker, president of Center of the American Experiment. “The FBI is taking this case very seriously,” he added. “The free flow of ideas does not work when one side resorts to violence.”
Alan Dowd, who serves as managing director of the EFNA Network, has kept in touch with staff at the Center of the American Experiment. “To their credit, they seem undeterred,” according to Dowd. “They are thankful no one was hurt. They hope those responsible for this crime will be brought to justice. And they say they are ‘staying strong.’”
More than two months after the attacks, the organization’s staffers remain unable to work in the office. But Hinderaker has emphasized, “This firebombing will not slow us down.”
“I don't mean to sound dramatic,” Dowd said in a message to the EFNA Network, “but I believe an attack against any of us who stand for individual liberty is an attack against us all.”
To find out more about the Center of the American Experiment, click this link [[link removed]]. To learn more about the attack and the center’s response, click here [[link removed]].
In Touch: Connect with Us
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To learn more about our research team, visit our senior staff [[link removed]] and senior fellow [[link removed]] pages. We always welcome your feedback at [
[email protected]]. To find out more about supporting the Fraser Institute, call (800) 665-3558, ext.568, or donate online [[link removed]].
STAY UP TO DATE
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The Fraser Institute is an independent Canadian public policy research and educational organization with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal and ties to a global network of 86 think-tanks. Its mission is to measure, study, and communicate the impact of competitive markets and government intervention on the welfare of individuals. To protect the Institute's independence, it does not accept grants from governments or contracts for research. To find out more, call (800) 665-3558 ext. 590.
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