Free the Economy

The United States is preparing to finalize vehicle fuel economy standards that are sharply lower than previously planned, according to the Detroit Free Press. The rollback would ease efficiency requirements for automakers, with potential consequences for fuel costs, emissions and the pace of electric vehicle adoption. Details of the final rule and its effective dates have not yet been published.

Attention is turning to the free trade agreement being negotiated between the European Union and India, and specifically what it would mean for Germany. As the EU's largest export-driven economy, Germany stands to gain from lower tariffs on cars, machinery and chemicals, but also faces questions about competition from Indian goods and services and how German industry would adjust.

Flying has transformed dramatically over recent decades: smoking sections on planes were phased out after health concerns and regulations, while complimentary meals in economy class have largely disappeared as airlines cut costs. What was once a relatively luxurious experience for ordinary passengers has become a more stripped-down service, with many airlines now charging extra for food, baggage and seat selection.

The European Union has told small island nations that sell citizenship through investment schemes, often called golden passports, to end the practice by 2028 or face consequences such as visa-free travel restrictions. The bloc argues such programmes pose security and money-laundering risks by allowing outsiders to obtain passports with little scrutiny. Caribbean and Pacific states that rely on the schemes for revenue are expected to resist or seek negotiations.

Bard College is presenting a discussion under the title 'Capitalism and Its Critics: the Return of Political Economy', examining why critiques of capitalism and the tradition of political economy are regaining attention in economic debate. The event frames political economy, which connects markets with politics and society, as increasingly relevant to current arguments over inequality, state intervention and the future of the free-market system.

The Competitive Enterprise Institute's Free the Economy podcast has released an episode with economist Paul Mueller, discussing economics as it applies to real-world situations. The episode is part of the free-market think tank's ongoing series exploring economic policy and ideas. Little further detail about the topics covered is available.

Kevin Hassett said the US economy could grow at a rate of 4% if it were free of external headwinds. The claim frames current growth constraints as largely coming from outside factors rather than domestic policy, a view likely to fuel debate among economists and policymakers about how fast the American economy can realistically expand.