When talking about doing business in China, two words tend to come up time and time again: opportunities and threats. That was the case at a Hofstra University (Long Island, New York) conference on May 8 titled “US-China: Opportunities for New Business Partnerships.” Speakers included executives doing business in China, academics, economists, media members, and [...]

Come on, admit it: It’s fun to say, “I told you so.” Unfortunately, there are times when you wish that you were not able to do so. For me, as a free-market economist, that’s been the case with the economy for more than four-and-a-half years now. Of course, a Nobel Prize in economics wasn’t necessary [...]

Who needs an MBA? Well, you might be surprised. As a business columnist, economist, and adjunct professor in an MBA program, I often see the value of business principles and ideas in different situations. And I’m not just talking about owning, managing and working in a business, or making assorted career choices. Beyond such obvious [...]

Taking the plunge into the waters of entrepreneurship can be invigorating, enriching and/or downright dangerous. If a startup succeeds, it means the owner is providing a good or service that others need or want, and supplying it at a profit. However, owning and operating a business is a risky, costly endeavor. Just consider that 31 [...]

Since April 15 fell on a Sunday, and the District of Columbia celebrates Emancipation Day on April 16, Americans didn’t have to file their income taxes this year until April 17. Don’t you feel lucky? I don’t. As both a taxpayer and an economist, our tax system ranks as a bewildering, frustrating mess. Not only [...]

Since April 15 fell on a Sunday, and the District of Columbia celebrates Emancipation Day on April 16, Americans didn’t have to file their income taxes this year until April 17. Don’t you feel lucky? I don’t. As both a taxpayer and an economist, our tax system ranks as a bewildering, frustrating mess. Not only [...]

Even with breathtaking advancements in technology, the world is still, well, the world. That means vast opportunities exist in the global marketplace, while real threats loom. Unfortunately, serious questions lurk about U.S. policies regarding those opportunities and threats. As for the opportunities, consider the vast increase in U.S. trade during the past 50 years. In [...]

For more than three years now, business owners and managers have faced increased costs and uncertainty, along with threats from the Obama White House. It’s been the case with taxes and regulations. And the groups or industries in the crosshairs include energy companies, private investors, banks and other financial institutions, as well as the health [...]

Entrepreneurs have the courage and ability to seek out, identify and capitalize on opportunities. At the same time, of course, entrepreneurship is not easy. It comes with assorted challenges, like staying focused on the customer, finding the right employees, keeping costs under control, innovating, gaining access to necessary credit and capital, and dealing with government. [...]