BHL readers might enjoy two things of mine that came out today.

The first is my monthly column “The Calling” at the Future of Freedom Foundation that addresses the ways in which crony capitalism might increase inequality.

When we put all three of these truths together, we get a story about the way in which those who already have wealth and power can and do make use of the state to block the upward mobility of their poorer, less-powerful potential competitors. Small-business owners, Uber and Lyft drivers, and African-American women who want to open hair-braiding businesses are trying to grab on to the bottom rungs of the income ladder and work their way up. These are the very people — start-up entrepreneurs and the working poor — that those critical of the market claim to care about.

In a world where government has all of these powers to intervene in markets, rent-seeking and cronyism are inevitable. Regulation will ensure that those who know the right people can tilt the regulatory playing field in their favor. The result will be a worsening of the income inequality that concerns so many. The rich will get richer through rent-seeking and cronyism, and they will do so at the expense of the poor and relatively powerless.

In addition, I was interviewed for this week’s episode of Freakonomics Radio about my contribution to The Economics of the Undead (co-authored with fellow BHLer Sarah Skwire), which deals with the relationship  between the broken window fallacy and the zombie apocalypse.  My segment begins about the 6 minute mark.  Happy Halloween all!