The article argues that the Federal Reserve's recent rate hike decision, while justifiable on inflation grounds, highlights a critical lack of an underlying, transparent policy framework. The core problem is that the Fed's decisions appear discretionary, leading to market uncertainty because the committee's judgment, rather than clear data, dictates policy shifts. The author proposes that the Fed adopt a formal monetary policy rule—an algebraic formula linking the target rate to indicators like inflation and unemployment—to replace subjective guidance. Implementing such a rule would provide market predictability, enhance transparency, and shield the Fed from political attacks by making deviations from the standard easily quantifiable.
Europe Should Not Be the Example for App Store Regulation
English Summary
The article argues that proposed app store regulations, such as the App Store Freedom Act (ASFA), are misguided because they impose a counterproductive 'one-size-fits-all' model on digital markets. Key criticisms include how these mandates undermine genuine competition by forcing third-party payment systems and homogenizing business models, thereby harming stores reliant on third-party apps. Furthermore, the bill’s prohibition on price matching removes a critical competitive mechanism used in both physical and digital retail. Ultimately, adopting such sweeping regulations risks reducing consumer choice, stifling diverse business practices, and significantly increasing cybersecurity vulnerabilities by compromising secure operating environments.
中文摘要
本文主張，諸如《應用程式商店自由法案》（App Store Freedom Act, ASFA）等擬議的應用程式商店監管規定是誤導性的，因為它們對數位市場實施了「一體適用」的、缺乏彈性的模式。主要批評指出，這些強制性規定透過強迫採用第三方支付系統和使商業模式同質化，從而削弱了真正的競爭力，進而損害了依賴第三方應用程式的商店。此外，該法案禁止價格比對（price matching）機制，移除了實體及數位零售業都用到的關鍵競爭手段。最終而言，採納如此全面性的監管規定，有使消費者選擇減少、阻礙多元商業實踐，並透過損害安全的營運環境而顯著提高網路安全漏洞的風險。
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