foobar2723

Based on a quick scan, this seems like weak tea to me. The article is based on a small sample of repeated measurements across three periods and multiple variables. The significance levels are small and the changes vary over time. For example, in the 90s it seems many variables increased quite a bit only to fall later. It seems to me to be quite possible that we’re seeing “significant” results simply due to random variation. I suspect this is a publish or perish exercise.

This is a really interesting point! I think regulation is the wrong way to go in this case. It sounds reasonable until you consider the burden of enforcement. Your comment brings in another dimension of how and why we determine certain things to be poor ideas for the ‘masses’.

We already do this. It creates a system of free clothing but also has had the unintended consequence of destroying domestic clothing production.