A Free-Market Energy Blog

Political Capitalism as a Distinct Economic System

By Randall Holcombe -- March 26, 2018

Editor Note: Three years ago, Randall Holcombe, the DeVoe Moore Professor of Economics at Florida State University, published an important essay in the Cato Journal, “Political Capitalism.” MasterResource is pleased to republish his summary as Part I of our four-part series. The lineup is political capitalism (today), contra-capitalism (tomorrow), and business-history scholarship (Wednesday and Thursday). Professor Holcombe’s contribution is also timely given the recent rent-seeking-friendly $1.3 billion, Republican/Democrat, 2,322-page Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018.

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“While political capitalism as an economic system has barely been recognized, the building blocks that form a theoretical foundation for political capitalism are firmly in place and well-accepted. In political science and sociology, the ideas of elite domination and biased pluralism are mainstream concepts that are a fundamental part of political capitalism.”

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Twenty-One Bad Things About Wind Energy — and Three Reasons Why

By -- March 22, 2018

[Note this post is the most popular article ever published on Master Resource. It has been now been significantly updated. Go here to see the current version.]

Trying to pin down the arguments of wind promoters is a bit like trying to grab a greased balloon. Just when you think you’ve got a handle on it, it morphs into a different story and escapes your grasp. Let’s take a quick highlight review of how things have evolved with merchandising industrial wind energy.

1 – Wind energy was abandoned for most commercial and industrial applications, well over a hundred years ago. Even in the late 1800s it was totally inconsistent with our burgeoning, more modern needs for power. When we throw the switch, we expect that the lights will go on – 100% of the time.…

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Chennai, India’s Cold Winter vs. Global Warming Hype

By Vijay Jayaraj -- March 21, 2018

“Why do developing countries like India fear calling out the climate myth? Because doing so would risk international trade relations by challenging the European economic powerhouses that are vehemently opposed to any country that leaves the Paris accord. In fact, the European Union’s new Brussels policy stipulates that the EU will not sign trade pacts with any country that does not ratify the Paris agreement.”

While many climate alarmists call for India to cut down its dependence on coal, fearing that carbon dioxide emissions will cause a climate apocalypse, real-world temperatures—local, regional, and global—suggest otherwise.

Chennai—a southern Indian city that is home to more than 10 million people—has recorded its coldest winter in 5 years.

Background

Chennai is the administrative capital of Tamil Nadu state and serves as a trade and financial hub of south India.…

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Kathleen Harnett White: ‘Social Justice’ Energy for the Masses (Part III)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- March 20, 2018
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Kathleen Hartnett White: Energy and Climate Insight (Part II)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- March 19, 2018
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R Street on Wind Power (2014)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- March 15, 2018
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ALEC on Climate Science: Where’s the Beef?

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- March 14, 2018
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Kathleen Harnett White: Common Energy/Climate Sense

By Charles Battig -- March 13, 2018
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Energy & Environmental Newsletter: March 12, 2018

By -- March 12, 2018
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Epstein, White to US EPA (a great six minutes in San Francisco!)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- March 9, 2018
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