Shanker Singham is the top conservative economist of his generation. In his latest book, he explains how market distortions affect trade, domestic regulation and economic growth globally. This new work represents Singhams most compelling effort to illustrate the scope and depth of regulatory overreach with new metrics. I urge policy makers to use these provocative new insights to drive game-changing impact in their countries economies, poverty alleviation, and human flourishing worldwide. The numbers now prove what Singham has long said intuitively that the upside of restrained and thoughtful regulation is massive, but the cost of getting regulation wrong isand always has beencatastrophic, leading us into a potentially very dangerous and polarized world.
- Kerry Healey, Former Lt-Governor, Massachusetts and former President, Babson College
The U.S. trade system regulating imports is in need of a remedy that is flexible enough to address the wide range of non-market practices in the global economy that damage U.S. firms and workers. Shanker Singham has been ahead of his time in developing this proposal to quantify and redress market distortions that damage trade and competition. This timely book will be highly useful for policymakers who are navigating the challenging trade world we face today. It is a must-read for anyone who worries about declining productivity and economic growth in Western nations and around the world
- Meredith Broadbent, Former Chairman of International Trade Commission. Former Assistant USTR for Industry, Market Access and Telecommunications
Shanker Singham has been the global leader in studying and measuring how government-imposed economic market distortions (ACMDs) distort trade, harm competition, and weaken property rights. These effects combine to significantly reduce economic growth around the world.
In addition to authoring pathbreaking studies of ACMDs, he chairs the non-partisan Growth Commission. The Commission is an independent organisation of international economists producing new research and dynamic economic modelling which identifies policies that can increase income per person.
This book represents Singhams latest and most important effort to establish and refine metrics that estimate the economic harm stemming from ACMDs.
The numbers now prove what Singham has been saying intuitively eliminating ACMDs has a tremendous economic upside. It spurs economic growth and raises per capita GDP for all citizens.
Public policymakers would do well to take note of Singhams findings. Future global economic prosperity may depend upon governments willingness to root out and tackle ACMDs.
- Alden Abbott, Senior Research Fellow, Mercatus Center at George Mason University, former General Counsel, Federal Trade Commission.
Channelling the 17th-century philosopher Thomas Hobbes, Shanker Singham writes, ' The normal state of human beings is poverty and war.' Singham then spends the next 123 pages of his new book on anti-competitive market distortions outlining how countries, by abandoning government-imposed restrictions, can (and should) enhance national prosperity and, ultimately, peace. Singham's insightful and timely book ought to be required reading for federal policymakers."
- James Carter, Former Associate Director, National Economic Council, The White House
Written by one of the worlds greatest economic thinkers, this book illustrates the scale of market distortions in the global economy. Shanker Singham expertly weaves the scale of distortion into the wider economic and national security picture, precisely describing how the world will be more at risk of conflict and war if these distortions are not dealt with. The world grows more dangerous by the moment, and Shanker Singham presents a way out of poverty and war into prosperity and peace. It is a must read.
- John Poindexter, Former National Security Advisor
