News 2: The Big Day is Almost Here!

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Welcome to the December issue of the Jones Act Gazette. In addition to the usual round-up of Jones Act commentary and analysis, this month's edition also highlights our upcoming Jones Act conference and some new essays about the law that have been submitted by the event's speakers.

Jones Act Conference This Thursday!

On December 6 the Cato Institute will host a full-day event, "The Jones Act: Charting a New Course after a Century of Failure." The conference will examine the law's various costs, the validity of its national security justification, and opportunities for reform. The event will culminate with a debate between a speaker advocating for the law and one in favor of repeal. Among those speaking at the conference will be:

Rob Quartel, former President of the Jones Act Reform Coalition
Michael Hansen, President, Hawaii Shippers Council
Manuel Reyes, Executive Vice-President/CEO, Puerto Rico Food Marketing, Industry and Distribution Chamber
Keliʻi Akina, President & CEO, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii

To view the complete list of speakers or register to attend please click here.

New Jones Act Essays

Speakers at our December conference will each submit an essay about various aspects of the Jones Act that will be compiled for eventual publication as an e-book early next year. Several preliminary drafts are already available, including:

Thomas Grennes explains that by raising the cost of acquiring ships that the Jones Act sacrifices some inherent advantages of water transportation. Check out his essay in "By Land or By Sea: Does the Jones Act Cause Land-Based Transport Congestion?"
Ted Loch-Temzelides notes that repealing the Jones Act would both add to consumer surplus by redistributing away from producers as well as add to overall efficiency by eliminating a deadweight loss. Read more in "Needed: A Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Jones Act."
Contrasting the struggling U.S. shipbuilding industry with other transportation sectors less subject to protectionist measures, Bryan Riley draws some important lessons in his piece, "What the Trump Administration Can Learn from the Jones Ac t."

The current list of essays can be found here. Make sure to check back as new ones are added!

Jones Act Commentary

Writings from Cato Scholars on the Jones Act

Alaska Lawmakers Must Get Serious About Jones Act Repeal

Life in Alaska is expensive, and the Jones Act is one reason why. Alaska's federal representatives need to stop supporting this law and get serious about repeal.

Keep Reading

The Jones Act Isn't Working. Just Ask Its Supporters

The Jones Act isn't working, but don't take our word for it—just listen to some of the law's biggest supporters.

Keep Reading

We Can't Make This Up...

Robert Gunter, the president and CEO of Hawaii-based Koloa Rum Co., says tha t to ship his company's product to Australia first requires paying about $6,000 for a Jones Act vessel to transport the cargo to the Mainland. To send the rum aboard a non-Jones Act ship from the Mainland to Australia, meanwhile, costs $1,900, or roughly one-third the price of the much shorter Jones Act voyage.

Bringing You A Fresh Fact Each Month, Stay Tuned!

Keeping up with the Jones Act

Recent Non-Cato Commentary

A Jones Act Restriction With High Costs and No Benefits, Thomas Grennes, Mercatus Center
Jones Act i s the Largest Impediment to Economic Growth in Hawaii, Victor Craft, Civil Beat
Is it Time for the U.S. to Set the Jones Act Adrift?, Julian Turner, Ship Technology Global

Cato.org/JonesAct

#EndTheJonesAct

Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Ave, NW
Washington, D.C. 20001

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