Dr. JVH select works

Stimulus Policies Should Better Consider Our Fiscal Future

A shorter version of the below was originally published by Morning Consult here. President Joe Biden’s inbound COVID relief proposal was released last week, touting an additional $1.9 trillion in […]

More Unlicensed Spectrum May Improve Opps for Businesses in the COVID Crisis

Now that nearly every business – and especially every small business – has an increased reliance on virtual operations, there has never been a more critical time to consider policies to enhance broadband and Wi-Fi technologies and networks.

5G wireless is critical to helping Puerto Ricans prosper at home and in PA

Originally published by the Philadelphia Inquirer here. Pennsylvania is home to the fourth-largest stateside population of Puerto Ricans, which continues to grow largely because of migration driven by natural disasters […]

TV: When Corruption Impedes Economic Development

Full clip originally published by Fox News here. This past week, massive protests broke out in Puerto Rico following newly released information shedding light on corrupt practices within the government […]

What Do Global Metrics Tell Us about the World?

In the following, Dr. John Rennie Short and I disclose our findings from a unique statistical analysis on global indices. You can download the full article here, or review the […]

What is GDP, how is it measured, and is GNP better?

Today the Bureau of Economic Analysis released its “advanced” estimate of 2018’s second quarter GDP growth. At 4.1%, it was the fastest rate in four years, breaking out of what […]

New Political Momentum for Puerto Rican Statehood

Originally published by The Hill here. Washington legislators have long been baffled by Puerto Rico’s economy, offering few, if any, successful policies. Hindered by an unexpected – and economically devastating […]

Most recently published.

0January 22, 2021
Stimulus Policies Should Better Consider Our Fiscal Future

A shorter version of the below was originally published by Morning Consult here. President Joe Biden’s inbound COVID relief proposal was released last week, touting an additional $1.9 trillion in […]
0April 8, 2020
More Unlicensed Spectrum May Improve Opps for Businesses in the COVID Crisis

Now that nearly every business – and especially every small business – has an increased reliance on virtual operations, there has never been a more critical time to consider policies to enhance broadband and Wi-Fi technologies and networks.
0January 15, 2020
5G wireless is critical to helping Puerto Ricans prosper at home and in PA

Originally published by the Philadelphia Inquirer here. Pennsylvania is home to the fourth-largest stateside population of Puerto Ricans, which continues to grow largely because of migration driven by natural disasters […]
0July 23, 2019
TV: When Corruption Impedes Economic Development

Full clip originally published by Fox News here. This past week, massive protests broke out in Puerto Rico following newly released information shedding light on corrupt practices within the government […]
0September 19, 2018
What Do Global Metrics Tell Us about the World?

In the following, Dr. John Rennie Short and I disclose our findings from a unique statistical analysis on global indices. You can download the full article here, or review the […]
0July 27, 2018
What is GDP, how is it measured, and is GNP better?

Today the Bureau of Economic Analysis released its “advanced” estimate of 2018’s second quarter GDP growth. At 4.1%, it was the fastest rate in four years, breaking out of what […]
0May 15, 2018
New Political Momentum for Puerto Rican Statehood

Originally published by The Hill here. Washington legislators have long been baffled by Puerto Rico’s economy, offering few, if any, successful policies. Hindered by an unexpected – and economically devastating […]
0October 27, 2017
Legislation can guarantee the neutrality our internet economy deserves

Originally published by The Hill newspaper here. Having recently closed its public commenting period, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has begun the arduous task of reviewing the millions of replies […]
0September 29, 2017
RADIO: How Hurricanes Affect Local Economies

The recent hurricane season will have an immediate impact on lives, as well as long-term macroeconomic implications for Texas, Florida, and especially Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. In the […]
0September 13, 2017
Remarks: Current Economic Climate

In August, I was fortunate enough to be offered the chance to provide opening remarks on the economic climate for millennials, the current national employment situation, and the value of […]
0July 24, 2017
So Many Economic Myths . . . where do I begin?

It’s amazing how often I feel the need to say out loud “well, that’s just plain wrong” to the TV nearly everyday (yeah, it’s a little crazy, I know). But, […]
0June 20, 2017
How a Puerto Rican State Will Benefit the U.S.

Puerto Rico, and the rest of the U.S., will be better off if Puerto Rico becomes a state.
0March 13, 2017
Int’l TV: Discussing Economic Conditions & Statehood for Puerto Rico

Originally published by TRT World here.
0January 30, 2017
The Economic Impact of a “Border Tax”

There’s been a lot of talk about President Trump’s proposal to tax imported goods coming through our southern border that has led to a debate about the benefits of trade […]
0December 7, 2016
President-elect Trump’s infrastructure plan should start here

Originally published by The Hill here. In a shift from the traditionally parsimonious Republican platform, President-elect Trump has promised a national infrastructure spending bill to promote economic growth. Maintaining and […]
0October 7, 2016
Let the private sector lead the way in Puerto Rico

Originally published by Fox News here. Economic growth may be staggeringly slow across the country, but Puerto Rico’s lengthy decline makes even seasoned economists blush. Last week’s island-wide blackout didn’t […]
0October 4, 2016
Politicians are missing an opportunity on the economy

Originally published by The Hill here. Almost nothing has more influence over a nation’s welfare than the growth rate of its economy. Economic growth allows us to expand educational opportunities, […]
0July 26, 2016
Public-private partnerships don’t always end in a ‘win-win’

Originally published by The Hill here. Cheap money is nearly impossible for a growing business to pass up. It’s even more difficult for an elected official to turn down a […]
0July 18, 2016
Introduction to The Common Sense behind Basic Economics

As promised, I’m posting the introduction to my book The Common Sense behind Basic Economics: A guide for budding economists, students, and voters below in order to get a conversation going, help those […]
0July 18, 2016
Pre-election Giveaway of book: The Common Sense behind Basic Economics

“…in light of this year’s elections (and ensuing economic debates) . . . I’m giving away a bunch of copies of my book The Common Sense behind Basic Economics: A guide […]
0July 1, 2016
TV: BBC World News discussion of largest GO bond default since 1933

On July 1st, 2016, nearly $2 billion in debt service was owed to creditors by the government of Puerto Rico. In a historic move, its government chose to default on […]
0April 23, 2016
Does a sub-minimum wage create jobs?

Originally published by The Hill here. The “fight for 15” crowd has managed to gain enough steam to garner mentions in presidential debates, trend on Twitter, and influence policy shifts […]
0March 6, 2016
TV: Fox News discussion on Puerto Rico’s primary vote & impact on the presidential election

Originally aired on Fox News. See video segment here. Puerto Rico held its Republican primary election on Sunday, March 6th, which may have an impact, not only the upcoming primary election […]
0December 15, 2015
Not So Fast: The Fed May Not Hike Just Yet

Originally published by the Inside Sources syndicate network here (which was picked up by other newspapers around the country, including The Daily Journal, The Palm Beach Post, The Courier-Post, and The Times […]
0November 3, 2015
Press release for new book picked up by news sources around the country

Link to official Press Release for The Common Sense behind Basic Economics. Sometimes you put together what you think is a great marketing piece, in this case a press release, […]
0September 21, 2015
The Fed didn’t raise rates. Will Congress get involved?

Originally published by The Hill here. If you have any money surfing the ebbs and flows of Wall Street, you’re probably a little nervous about what the Federal Reserve (Fed) […]
0June 30, 2015
New Internet Regulations Have Very Bad Timing

Originally published by Fox News here. On June 12th, the Federal Communication Commission’s “Open Internet Order” went into effect, assigning new rules to Internet Service Providers’ operations. Don’t be fooled […]
0May 22, 2015
How the FCC’s New Internet Regulations are Already Hurting the Economy

Originally published by TheHill.com here. Despite supporters’ assurances that businesses will not be harmed by the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) recently adopted Internet regulations, new evidence suggests otherwise. Last week, […]
0April 30, 2015
Is Puerto Rico’s last hope bankruptcy?

Originally published by Fox News here. The Bankruptcy Code was established to allow insolvent borrowers – including individuals, companies, and municipalities – to undergo a court-supervised path for restructuring debts, […]
0March 27, 2015
Estimating the True Cost of FCC Regulation

Ever since the FCC began kicking around the idea of new Internet regulations (a.k.a. “net neutrality” regulation), economists, attorneys, and politicos have been arguing what, if any, cost will be […]
0March 20, 2015
Puerto Rico’s economy is a mess, but it doesn’t have to be

Originally published by Fox News here. Puerto Rico has always been an island paradise, but it is far from an economic one. There have been a few exaggerations in recent […]
0February 25, 2015
Elected representatives, not the FCC, will protect our interests in Internet commerce

Originally published by Fox News here. You might have missed the notice (it’s okay, you’re normal), but last month a group of experts were called to the U.S. Capitol to provide […]
0February 13, 2015
Internet Policy in Europe: Lessons for the US

One of the (many) problems with attempting to analyze the effects of a proposed policy is the debate about how to measure and compare its effectiveness. In other sciences, it’s […]
0February 2, 2015
Dynamic Competition in Internet Sector

Originally published by The Hill here. One of public policy experts’ justifications for government intervention in the Internet sector is that there is an inherent market failure – what economists […]
0December 8, 2014
As economic opportunities improve, tech entrepreneurs become targets

Originally published by Fox News here. Regardless of your opinion about the country’s currently uninspiring, yet improving economic conditions, the Internet is still the one industry that offers unlimited opportunities […]
0September 28, 2014
Economic regulations always have consequences

Originally published by Sun Herald newspaper here. When asked, even most well-educated Americans don’t understand the Federal Communications Commission’s purpose, nor how its policy decisions affect us. Even more elusive […]
0September 12, 2014
The Economics behind Net Neutrality

Originally published by Inside Sources here. When asked, even most well-educated Americans don’t understand the Federal Communications Commission’s purpose, nor how its policy decisions affect us. Even more elusive is […]
0January 28, 2014
Lenders Meet To Discuss Puerto Rico’s Fate. Is There Still Hope?

Originally published by Fox News here. Puerto Rico’s creditors, holding a meeting in New York Thursday to discuss their fears of an inevitable debt default, had this message for the […]
0December 1, 2013
Default: Puerto Rico’s Inevitable Option

Originally published by Forbes here. Washington politicos aren’t the only ones instigating a perpetual debt crisis. Puerto Rico too is experiencing a political stalemate-induced fight for their financial lives that […]
0October 15, 2013
Will U.S. Have To Bail Out Puerto Rico?

Originally published by Fox News here. by Justin Vélez-Hagan Detroit, once known as an American manufacturing and economic powerhouse, is now better known for high crime, low employment, run-down neighborhoods, and financial […]