Economics is defined as the social science that studies the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. There are two basic schools of thought in economics. Free market/laissez-faire economics and Keynesian economics.

Adam Smith (1723-1790), a Scottish economist and philosopher, is often called the ‘father of modern economics.’ Smith introduced the concept of the ‘invisible hand,’ in regard to economics.

It was part of a laissez-faire/hands-off governmental approach that holds an economy will find equilibrium without government or other interventions forcing it into unnatural patterns. In other words, supply and demand rule the economy. Smith believed it was the height of impertinence and presumption for government to tell people to restrain their spending when they(government) were spendthrifts. Smith argued a free-market economic system along with free trade would produce true national wealth, benefiting all social classes, not just a privileged few.

Keynesian economics was named after British economist John Maynard Keynes (1883-1946). Keynes is known as the father of modern macroeconomics. Keynes believed government intervention by monetary policy was necessary to help stabilize a country’s economy.

Elected officials in both Parties embrace Keynes’ philosophy in varying degrees.

Both economic schools of thought agree under ideal conditions, a country’s economy should have the household sector as net savers and the corporate sector as net borrowers, with the government budget nearly balanced and net exports near zero. When these relationships become imbalanced, recession can develop within the country.

Some governments highly control their economy. In the most extreme, they are command economies where the government controls all the means of production, pricing of goods and services and worker’s wages. Major industries are nationalized. China, North Korea and Russia are all examples of command economies.

In a free-market economy, the law of supply and demand, rather than a central planner, regulates production and labor. Companies sell goods and services at the highest price customers are willing to pay while workers earn the highest wage an employer is willing to pay for their services.

The United States, Switzerland, and Great Britain are examples of free-market economies. In reality, all economies blend some combination of market and command economies.
Inflation occurs when prices rise due to increases in production costs, such as raw materials and wages. A surge in demand for products and services can also cause inflation as consumers are willing to pay more for a product.

Inflation is an indirect tax on people. Some inflation is acceptable, but when it climbs above 2% per year, it can disrupt an economy and potentially move it into a recession. A recession is when there is a general decline in economic activity. People stop spending and producers stop producing until stability returns to the market. Prolonged inflation can and often does trigger a recession.

The inflation rate in the U.S. is +7.9% — the highest in forty years. According to Reuters, U.S. consumer debt is growing at the largest amount in fourteen years. The average household has $155,622 in debt (includes mortgages)- up +6.2% from a year ago. Government spending is at all-time highs. That is the trifecta of conditions for a recession, likely in 2023.

President Biden’s solution to attack inflation? More taxes. Last week, he proposed a $2.5 trillion dollar tax increase on the wealthy and corporations. The problem is corporations don’t pay taxes — people do. Corporations pass through tax increases to the consumer. Reduction of government spending, allowing hard working Americans to keep more of their money and reducing government’s footprint will get inflation under control. President Biden’s increasing taxes on Americans won’t.

Note: Steve Fair is Chairman of the Republican Party in the Fourth Congressional District of Oklahoma. Steve’s conservative commentaries appear regularly at the CapitolBeatOK.com news website. Contact him by email at okgop@aol.com. His blog is stevefair.blogspot.com.