He also argues that cabotage restrictions do not originate with the Jones Act, and that the use of foreign crews would violate immigration law.

“Given that the overwhelming majority of the cost differential is explained by differences in labour costs, it therefore seems hard to understand from where, exactly, the cost savings of repeal would actually come.”

He does add: “None of this is to say that the Jones Act is the first-best policy or that the law is sufficient to accomplish the military’s goals.”

Published by Truth on the Market, which describes itself as “scholarly commentary on law”, it’s an interesting read.