As part of the Center for the Study of Free Enterprise’s goal of enhancing free and open discussion and debate, the Barnes Student Fellows, Tryston Weiss and Kevin Lavery, led two classroom debates on April 29th.
The resolution was: Government should often intervene to control economic activity.
Presenters discussed when it was appropriate to intervene. Many students suggested the government should intervene when there is monopoly power, when there is an economic downturn, when inequality is too large, and when trading partners are not treating US producers fairly. Participants asked detailed questions about what criteria must be met so that government should intervene: How much of an economic downturn requires government action? How much inequality is too much? When is a producer a monopolist? What type of trade actions are unfair?
Others focused on what the government should do if the threshold for intervention is met. Should the government increase spending or lower taxes? Should the government breakup a firm? How? Should governments increase taxes on those with high incomes or offer tax credits to lower income workers? Should the US place trade restrictions on country’s unwilling to trade fairly with US producers?
In the debrief, students were pleased that they were given the opportunity to express their views. They also appreciated that everyone listened respectfully and asked clarifying questions.
The debate would not have been possible without Tryston Weiss’s steady leadership as chair and Kevin Lavery’s work as whip. This is sadly Kevin’s last event as a Barnes Student Fellow as he will be graduating in a few weeks. We will miss working with him and are excited about his future endeavors!