One reason for persistent political disagreements is that it can be hard to discern the outcomes of certain policies.

Consider the minimum wage. Raising it provides an immediate boost to minimum wage workers. But there’s a lot of evidence that it reduces hours and job opportunities for low-skill workers. It can lead businesses to increase automation. Over years and decades, an abundance of regulations can produce reduced economic growth. While there’s ample evidence for these long-term outcomes, they are rarely immediately apparent. And the argument continues.

That’s why what happened in Washington, D.C., is so notable. Last month, President Donald Trump declared that crime there was too high and that he would reduce it. Think about the political risk that Trump was taking. If he failed,

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