John Hood Urges Free-Market Fixes for 5 Cost Pressures as Debt Tops 100% of GDP

1 articles · Updated · Carolina Journal · Jul 27

Housing, energy, groceries, healthcare and child care dominate voter affordability worries, prompting John Hood to argue policymakers should cut regulations and expand competition instead of capping prices or redistributing income.
Hood says the core problem is weak innovation and supply, proposing easier homebuilding and room rentals, faster power-plant approvals, fewer food subsidies, more healthcare competition, and looser rules for child-care providers.
Federal debt above 100% of GDP, possible AI disruption to labor markets, and weak trends in education, family formation and labor-force participation could worsen cost pressures even though Hood says Americans overall remain better off than past generations.
Protectionist import taxes on inputs such as lumber, metals and textiles should also end, he argues, framing affordability as a supply-side challenge best addressed with more economic freedom.