In defence of the US Jones Act

© Robert Hyrons

Debate about the highly contested Jones Act seems to be cyclical. And its time has come around again. But this is an argument not often seen, and it’s interesting. The author here argues that the act subsidises shipbuilding and maritime labour – which the US would have to do anyway, to ensure it had access to ships and crew in times of need. It could, of course, ‘lease’ them from the commercial market – another subsidy. Or as he puts ...