Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro argues that the U.S. economy is faltering because of excessive government intervention and subsidies that distort market forces, drive inflation, and punish competition.  

In his recent remarks, Shapiro outlined a clear economic contrast: subsidized sectors such as education, healthcare, and housing have seen skyrocketing prices, while competitive, unsubsidized markets—like consumer electronics—have delivered dramatic cost reductions and innovation.  

According to Shapiro, “Government subsidies distort markets, causing prices for education, healthcare, and housing to rise sharply over the past 30 years, unlike unsubsidized goods like TVs and smartphones that have become cheaper through competition.”  

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics supports his argument. Between 1997 and 2017, college tuition costs increased by more than 180% in real terms, while the price of televisions fell by over 90%. The numbers illustrate a fundamental divide between subsidized industries, where government spending fuels inflation, and free-market sectors, where consumer demand and innovation drive efficiency.  

Shapiro contends that the growing cost of essential services is not the result of “corporate greed” but rather of policies that disconnect consumers from true market pricing. When government steps in to “help,” he argues, it often inflates costs by creating artificial demand and removing incentives for efficiency.  

The takeaway, according to Shapiro, is that lasting economic growth depends on restoring market discipline—allowing prices, competition, and innovation to operate freely without bureaucratic distortion. For conservatives, his message underscores the need to roll back subsidies, shrink federal control, and let the free market work for the American people once again.