What I've been reading

• Richard Posner and Gary Becker give a thumbs down to the financial sector overhaul bill.

• Two Swedish economists provide some lessons from the Swedish welfare state.

• John Tamny explains why we should discount President Obama's initiative to boost exports.

• Brian Riedl says that government spending, not tax cuts, is the main culprit behind our surging deficits.

• The New York Times details how capitalism in China is leaving a trail of destruction prosperity in its wake.

• Mark Perry highlights the idiocy of wheat subsidies.

• The hassles of regulation from a small business perspective.

• Michael Cannon looks at how competition has helped save lives in the UK's National Health Service.

• Matt Welch points out yet another example of crony capitalism. This kind of thing doesn't happen in the free market.

• Tim Cavanaugh on the problems with high-speed rail. What a mess.