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Issue 63 | Spring 2022 | ||||||||
Welcome back to Fraser Insight, the Fraser Institute’s U.S. newsletter. |
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In Print: Commentary and Review | ||||||||
Russia and Its Former Satellites Lag behind Rest of EuropeFraser BlogRussia’s invasion of Ukraine and the economic sanctions imposed by the West in response highlight the weakening state of the Russian economy. Poor Climate Policies Spur Europe’s Energy DebacleCalgary SunGovernment subsidies don’t tackle the root cause of Europe’s energy crisis—that is, the move away from reliable and affordable energy sources to less reliable and more expensive energy such as wind and solar. Climate Policy: Modeling vs. Market-Based MeasuresFraser BlogUsing a market-driven, quality control-style system to manage climate risk would be much more likely to achieve a desired end than the statist policies being pursued by governments around the world. Doomsday Predictions Rely on Flawed Climate ModelsFraser BlogThe descent into catastrophic climate degradation always seems to be about 10 years away. Business Needs to Focus on BusinessThe HubThe new frontier of top-down socialism—whether it’s called stakeholder capitalism or environmental, social and governance (ESG)—requires businesses to prioritize loosely defined goals over goals directly related to their businesses. Western Countries Demonize Oil and Gas at Their PerilCalgary SunThere has been a full-blown energy crisis brewing in Europe at least since last summer; today’s record-high prices are not merely the result of the Russian invasion. Governments Worldwide Use ‘Enemies’ to Justify RepressionReal Clear PoliticsFreedom waxes and wanes over time. Its current setback need not become permanent or prolonged if its inherent value and benefits are more widely and better appreciated. Freedom at Stake in the StansFraser BlogInternational events are linked in complicated ways. Taiwan’s future may lie in Ukraine, whose own future may be determined in Kazakhstan. President Biden Doubles Down on StatismFraser BlogPresident Biden had an opportunity to reset his administration in a centrist direction as part of his first State of the Union Address. But he didn’t. |
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In Focus: Research and Analysis | ||||||||
The Investment Outlook for the Canadian and U.S. Oil and Gas SectorsIt is certainly possible that the outlook for a more restrictive regulatory regime surrounding oil and gas exploration and production under the Biden administration has, in the view of investors, shifted the relative competitive positions of the industries in Canada and the United States to be more favorable for Canada. One must be cautious, however, in drawing strong conclusions from a single year’s (2021) divergence from a decade-long pattern of valuation declines for Canadian oil and gas companies relative to their U.S. counterparts. Investors in the North American energy sector will arguably continue to favor U.S.-based investments. The Essential Natural LawFew ideas have been as influential in the development of moral, political, legal, and economic thought in the Western tradition as the idea of natural law. Yet the understanding of natural law and its influence on specific norms and institutions—rights, justice, private property, rule of law, limited government, etc.—is not as widespread in the 21st century as it was just 100 years ago. This book aims to help rectify this deficit by explaining the basic principles of natural law and highlighting significant contributions that key natural law scholars have made to ideas and concepts that have encouraged the growth of free societies. The Essential Women of LibertyThis series of essays explores the lives and ideas of women whose work contributed enormously to the democratic, prosperous and free societies that many people enjoy today. The women highlighted here are a remarkably diverse group of thinkers. Their lives span the 18th to 21st centuries, and their contributions are significant despite the barriers each faced. Some were educated at prestigious universities, while others only had informal schooling. Some were academics, others writers and journalists, and still others activists. What they had in common was an understanding of the power of liberty and their influential advocacy of such during their lives. |
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In Context: News and Events | ||||||||
What the Soviet Union and Its Satellites Can Teach Us TodayWith Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet republics and satellites dominating the news, Fraser Forum host Danielle Smith interviewed Peter Boettke, a professor of economics and philosophy at George Mason University and senior fellow with the Fraser Institute, to capture his insights on the politics and economics of the Soviet Union, how the political-economic system of the Soviet sphere shifted to more open markets, and what the tragedy of Soviet communism can teach us today. Listen to the full Fraser Forum podcast here. |
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In Touch: Connect with Us | ||||||||
To learn more about our research team, visit our senior staff and senior fellow 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. | ||||||||
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