Bigger Pie Forum

BPF researches and shares educational information encouraging Mississippi’s Economic Freedom while discouraging Crony Capitalism to increase Mississippi’s Economic Growth. BPF focuses on Constitutional Foundations, Education, Energy, Environment, Health Care, Federal Government & Agencies, Mississippi State Government & Agencies and Regulatory Abuses & Reforms.

Featured Work

BPF Book Review: ‘The Illusion of Innovation’ by Elliot Parker

by Ashby Foote

Published March 14, 2025

Innovation and innovators are critical to a dynamic and resilient economy. They are the methods, madness and masterminds behind Joseph Schumpeter’s famous descriptive, ‘creative destruction’. So, author Elliot Parker’s new book, ‘Illusion of Innovation’ should be taken as a serious warning to economists, investors and politicians about the prospects for America’s prosperity in the years ahead. The book serves as a critical and important assessment of the state of innovation in America today.

Mini Mills, DeepSeek, and Amazon’s Data Centers

by Kelley Williams

Published February 6, 2025

In 1969, Nucor opened its first mini steel mill in Darlington, SC. Its small electric furnaces produced steel from scrap cheaper and faster than the big integrated mills’ blast furnaces could from iron ore. Nucor disrupted the steel industry. Today, it’s the largest and most diversified steel company in North America, with a $45 billion market cap. Mini mills now account for 70% of all steel produced in the U.S. Former industry giant U.S. Steel has only two integrated mills left, a market cap of $8 billion, and is seeking to be acquired. Sic transit gloria.

DOGE and the Ghost of Ike

by Ashby Foote

Published December 31, 2024

Of all the things to emerge in the post ‘24’ election frenzy, DOGE (Department Of Government Efficiency) may be the most fascinating. It’s not actually a department, but rather an 18 month project to identify waste, fraud, abuse, inefficiency and regulatory excesses that add to America’s debt burden and bog down the U.S. economy.

SMRs and Other Unicorns

by Kelley Williams

Published October 30, 2024

So what does any of this have to do with small modular nuclear reactors? Well there are lots of data centers pending. Microsoft recently announced three new ones. There’s not enough spare electricity capacity to power them. But at this time, SMR’s are just theories. Imaginary unicorns. Apparently there are none in the U.S. None, ready for prime time. None, ready to license their technologies.

Cut To the Chase

by Kelley Williams

Published September 29, 2024

The Corps Old River Control Complex (ORCC) near Louisiana’s Angola Prison just south of the Mississippi line makes flooding worse inside the levees. The flooding affects about a half million acres in Mississippi and Louisiana owned by over 500 plaintiffs who sued the Corps in 2019 for taking their properties. I’m one of those plaintiffs. I quit writing about floods when I became one. I’m starting again. I can’t wait on the courts.

Recent Commentary

A Tale of Two Years and Two Worlds

By Ashby Foote | January 6, 2024

Charles Dickens put it well 165 years ago, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity…” This is an apt metaphor for the stock market and the world in 2023 and perhaps for 2024 as well. Last year saw seven magnificent technology stocks promising glorious productivity gains from Artificial Intelligence (AI) lead the S&P 500 to dramatic double-digit returns

And Another One Bites the Dust

By Kelley Williams | December 1, 2023

Enviva has been in the news lately. Mongabay News reported a company whistleblower (they’re everywhere) says the company’s green claims are fraudulent. The claims also defy common sense. But so do solar plants that supply electricity 25% of the time when it’s needed 24-7-365. Hey, you’re not supposed to ask if green energy makes common sense or economic sense. Just pretend it does.

A Conversation with Mark Mills on the Future of Energy

By Ashby Foote | November 6, 2023

We delve deep into the complex world of energy with expert Mark Mills of the Manhattan Institute as he debunks myths and shines a light on the future. From the realities of electric vehicles to the impact of green energy on the mining industry, we cover it all.

Academic Fraud Busters

By Kelley Williams | October 4, 2023

Who you gonna call when a Harvard Business School tenured professor lies about her research? Research about why people lie and cheat. Fraud Busters, that’s who. A recent Wall Street Journal article profiled three academic fraud busters. They’re busy.

BPF Book Review: Reframe Your Brain by Scott Adams

By Ashby Foote | September 22, 2023

Reframing how one looks at the world and life itself can be a great way to get out of an old rut and find a new groove and Reframe Your Brain presents a systematic approach to incorporate reframing into your everyday life.

A Local Perspective: Soaring Pension Costs Puts Pressure on Budgets

By The BPF Editorial Board | August 7, 2023

When the PERS Board voted to increase taxpayer funding by raising the “employer contribution rate” five percentage points at a cost of $265 million, most attention was given to state-supported entities (think: agencies, K-12 public schools, community colleges, and public universities). Yet the total funding required by this rate hike is $345 million, with some $80 million in new financial obligations placed squarely on the shoulders of Mississippi’s cities and counties. Unless something changes, the new rate (and higher costs) become effective July 1, 2024.