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From the Government

How Governments Have Made Us Healthier, Wealthier, and Better Educated and Made Our Lives Safer and Fairer

How Governments Have Made Us
Healthier, Wealthier, and Better Educated
and Made Our Lives Safer and Fairer

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Wealthier

Patents, Copyrights, and Trademarks

June 22, 2022 by Otis Leave a Comment

The federal government helps businesses protect their innovations and creative works through patents and copyrights, and their reputations through trademarks. Why does it do this? For the same reason state and local governments protect citizens’ ownership of cars and homes. It ensures peace and prosperity. What’s new is that the federal government’s role in protecting “intellectual property” is growing. And businesses are all for it.

Filed Under: Federal government Tagged With: Economic development, Wealthier

Dependable Insurance

June 25, 2021 by Otis Leave a Comment

Insurance is critical to our economy and our lives and, taken as a whole, surprisingly big. Americans spend nearly as much each year on insurance coverage as on food. But insurance rests on a promise that, if the worst happens, you will be protected. Why should we believe that promise? Because for nearly 200 years, state governments have audited insurance companies’ books and watched their payment records to be sure they keep their word.

Filed Under: State governments Tagged With: Externalities, Health care, Home ownership, Wealthier

Professional Licenses

April 24, 2021 by Otis Leave a Comment

State governments began licensing doctors, lawyers, engineers, and other professionals in the late 1800s. They did it because colleges were turning out highly trained people who found themselves surrounded by con artists and quacks. The professionals turned to the states for help. In the century and a half since, licensing has raised professional standards and given us some assurance that those we depend on for expert advice are trained and acting in our best interests. For this, we can thank government.

Filed Under: State governments, Urbanism Tagged With: Fairer, Health care, Healthier, Late 1800s, Safer, Wealthier

The Internet

March 27, 2021 by Otis Leave a Comment

The most transformative technology of our era started out as a government project and was supported mostly by government funds until it was discovered by businesses in the 1990s. Here’s how the internet became the preferred way of connecting computers and creating an online world, why this government creation beat out private competitors, and what it tells us about the role governments play in economic development.

Filed Under: Federal government Tagged With: Better educated, Collaboration, Economic development, Wealthier

Cooperative Extension

March 20, 2021 by Otis 2 Comments

In the 20th century a remarkable partnership between the federal government and the states and localities transformed American farming by teaching farmers about new crops, methods, and technologies. Imagine what something like cooperative extension could do in the 21st century for people living in cities and suburbs. Here’s why this government program worked so well in the past, and why it might be a model for our times.

Filed Under: Federal government, Federalism, Local governments, State governments Tagged With: Better educated, Economic development, Education, Higher education, Late 1800s, Wealthier

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