Getting the government’s permission to work—occupational licensing—hurts both consumers and entrepreneurs. That’s the conclusion of two new reports, one a study conducted by the Institute for Justice and the other a survey by the Kauffman Foundation and . As the reports note, in the 1950s, only one in 20 U.S. workers needed government permission to pursue their chosen occupation. Today, it is closer to one in three. Yet research to date provides little evidence that licensing protects public health and...

On , Rev. Robert A. Sirico looks at the recent anti-capitalism, anti-NATO protests in Chicago: In countless debates and conversations with modern proponents of social justice, I have noticed that they are less interested in justice than in material equality. They borrow the language of justice and mon good but have either forgotten or rejected the classical meanings of those terms. In the classical tradition of reflection on justice (especially seen in Aristotle, St. Thomas Aquinas, and their intellectual descendants)...

Rev. Sirico’s new book is not the only recent entry on the topic of markets and morality (though paring reviews, it may be the best). Harvard political philosopher Michael Sandel also examines the subject in What Money Can’t Buy. Unlike his wildly overpraised Justice, though, Sandel’s latest work is getting mixed reviews—even from those who you’d expect to sing his praises. For instance, Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, seems to believe that Sandel missed an opportunity to provide a stronger...

Acton Institute president and co-founder Rev. Robert Sirico is slated to appear on Fox News’ “Your World with Neil Cavuto” today at 4:30 p.m. (EST). Be sure to tune in for Rev. Sirico’s perspective on his recently published book, Defending the Free Market: The Moral Case for a Free Economy, and other relevant happenings of the day. ...

Dr. James E. Bruce, assistant professor of philosophy at John Brown University, has a review of Rev. Robert Sirico’s new book, Defending the Free Market: The Moral Case for a Free Economy, on the Library of Law and Liberty website. Bruce’s review offers an insightful primer to the book and does not lack for praise: Sirico at one point says that a pliment is “being told that I have put into words what someone has thought for a long time...

Acton Institute president and co-founder Rev. Robert Sirico’s appearance on public television’s “The World Show” with Robert Scully is set to air on various PBS outlets on May 31st. Check your local listings for further information. In the meantime, keep following the PowerBlog for clips and video surrounding the Defending the Free Market book release. ...

Acton President Rev. Robert A. Sirico continues to promote Defending the Free Market: The Moral Case for a Free Economy on radio and television across the country; today’s roundup of media includes two radio interviews on west coast radio stations, starting with host Brian Sussman on the KSFO Morning Show in San Francisco, California: [audio: Next came a trip up the coast to Medford, Oregon and the Bill Meyer Show on KMED: [audio: Keep checking back for more clips here...

In this week’s Acton Commentary (published May 30), Anthony Bradley argues that racial discrimination is no match for the power petition: panies were free to discriminate against blacks it was not in their economic interests to do so because, at the end of the day, pany’s favorite color is green.”The full text of his essay follows. Subscribe to the free, weekly Acton News & Commentary and other publicationshere. The Power of Market-Driven Diversity byAnthony B. Bradley The story of Chicago-based...

Does God side with the poor and oppose the rich? Glenn Sunshine looks at what the Bible says about the issue: So why are the poor described as blessed? The issue isn’t poverty per se, but rather the attitude of humility and reliance on God that it can produce in us, which is why Matthew’s version of the beatitude isn’t just “Blessed are the poor,” but “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Reliance on personal wealth or government help (Ps....

What is it like to engage the culture on a college campus through philosophy? Watch as Bruce McCluggage, Philosophy Instructor at Pike’s Peak Community College, shares firsthand what it is like to be On Call in munity college Culture as he interacts with students in the classroom, within philosophy club discussion groups and even at an atheist conference. Watch as Bruce explains how philosophy presents an amazing opportunity to be . . . On Call Through Philosophy Next Bruce talks...