The Merchant Marine Act of 1920, also known as the Jones Act, has governed the United States shipping industry for almost 100 years. Is it a boon or a burden for the US economy? Is it crucial for national security? Dan Ikenson of the CATO Institute and Professor Sal Mercogliano of Campbell University outline the history of the Jones Act and debate its ramifications.

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As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.

Learn more about Daniel J. Ikenson:
https://www.cato.org/people/daniel-ikenson

Follow Daniel J. Ikenson on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/dikenson

Learn more about Salvatore Mercogliano:
https://directory.campbell.edu/people/sal-mercogliano/

Follow Salvatore Mercogliano on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/mercoglianos

 

Related links:

The CATO Institute Project on Jones Act Reform:
https://www.cato.org/project-on-jones-act-reform

“To Waive or Not to Waive, that is the Jones Act Question?”
https://gcaptain.com/jones-act-waiver-question/

Maritime Law Center - The Jones Act
https://www.maritimelawcenter.com/html/the_jones_act.html

The Jones Act: Debating the Lingering Effects of a 100-Year-Old Law
https://fedsoc.org/commentary/videos/the-jones-act-debating-the-lingering-effects-of-a-100-year-old-law

 

Differing views:

The Jones Act is Critical to National Security
https://www.americanmaritimepartnership.com/articles/op-ed-the-jones-act-is-critical-to-national-security/

Rust Buckets: How the Jones Act Undermines U.S. Shipbuilding and National Security
https://www.cato.org/multimedia/cato-daily-podcast/rust-buckets-how-jones-act-undermines-us-shipbuilding-national

Jones Act - The Transportation Institute
https://transportationinstitute.org/jones-act/

Wall Street Journal - “America First?” Kill the Jones Act
https://www.wsj.com/articles/america-first-kill-the-jones-act-11572822910

Forbes - The Jones Act: Friend or Foe?
https://www.forbes.com/sites/thebakersinstitute/2017/09/28/the-jones-act-friend-or-foe/#4f83b0364faa

The Hoover Institute - How the Jones Act Harms America
https://www.hoover.org/research/how-jones-act-harms-america

The American Waterways Operators - The Jones Act
https://www.americanwaterways.com/issues/jones-act