The issue is who we are and what we want to be. A lot of the comments concern the fact that of course most of the tax cuts go to the top one percent because they pay the most taxes. The real point should is whether the tax system should be progressive or not. The tax cuts to the top 1% did not have to happen.
Economist's View: Where Did the Bush Tax Cuts Go?
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Why do other countries care more about health care cost control?
The difference in spending is so great and the difference in outcome is so small that it is really hard to understand why we tolerate spending more.
Marginal Revolution: Why do other countries care more about health care cost control?
Marginal Revolution: Why do other countries care more about health care cost control?
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
The puzzle of private equity
It is still not clear if private equity adds value to anyone but the private equity managers.
The puzzle of private equity | Buttonwood's notebook | Economist.com
The puzzle of private equity | Buttonwood's notebook | Economist.com
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Solar Energy
How many panels would be required to power the world?
The answer is simple the logistics of building panels and grid are daunting.
Also there is the problem of night.
AreaRequired1000.jpg (JPEG Image, 1000x706 pixels)
The answer is simple the logistics of building panels and grid are daunting.
Also there is the problem of night.
AreaRequired1000.jpg (JPEG Image, 1000x706 pixels)
Fatal Infection | Information Is Beautiful
Chinese growth looking strong
Chinese growth is 9 percent. But the stimulus measures account for 15 percent of GDP.
Chinese growth looking strong | Free exchange | Economist.com
And pig farmers are buying up copper.
Chinese growth looking strong | Free exchange | Economist.com
And pig farmers are buying up copper.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Glass Steagall
Why Volcker is wrong and you cannot return to a world of commercial and investment banks.
Paul Volcker, Mervyn King, Glass Steagall, and the Real TBTF Problem « naked capitalism
Paul Volcker, Mervyn King, Glass Steagall, and the Real TBTF Problem « naked capitalism
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
AllAboutAlpha.com» Featured Post » Fisheries, tipping points, and disease “super-spreaders” in Boston
Global Absolute Return Conference
AllAboutAlpha.com» Featured Post » Fisheries, tipping points, and disease “super-spreaders” in Boston
http://www.global-arc.net/
AllAboutAlpha.com» Featured Post » Fisheries, tipping points, and disease “super-spreaders” in Boston
http://www.global-arc.net/
The Sun That Rises On Shanghai Sets On Tokyo « China Bystander
Tokyo and Japan are losing their place in Asia.
The Sun That Rises On Shanghai Sets On Tokyo « China Bystander
The Sun That Rises On Shanghai Sets On Tokyo « China Bystander
Monday, October 19, 2009
Governments Should Tax Bank Bonuses - WSJ.com
The WSJ is demanding social justice and denying the supremacy of markets.
The gall of the investment banks and banks is too much even for them.
Governments Should Tax Bank Bonuses - WSJ.com
The gall of the investment banks and banks is too much even for them.
Governments Should Tax Bank Bonuses - WSJ.com
Securitized Loans Are 5X More Likely to Be Delinquent | The Big Picture
A nice visual of the securitization process.
Securitized Loans Are 5X More Likely to Be Delinquent | The Big Picture
Securitized Loans Are 5X More Likely to Be Delinquent | The Big Picture
*Sigh* Last Post on Superfreakonomics, I Promise - J. Bradford DeLong's Grasping Reality with All Eight Tentacles
If you are going to get Brad DeLong to review your book, make sure it is before your final draft. DeLong rips Levitt and Dubner:
*Sigh* Last Post on Superfreakonomics, I Promise - J. Bradford DeLong's Grasping Reality with All Eight Tentacles
*Sigh* Last Post on Superfreakonomics, I Promise - J. Bradford DeLong's Grasping Reality with All Eight Tentacles
Friday, October 16, 2009
Just when you thought things were getting better.
The white house comment:
A White House spokesman, asked about the case, quipped: “I’ve found that, actually, the children of biracial couples can do pretty good.”
Louisiana Justice of the Peace Denies Marriage License to Interracial Couple - Associated Content - associatedcontent.com
Not the pride of Harvard Class '83.
http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/vitter-refuses-to-comment-on-justice-who-wont-marry-interracial-couples.php
A White House spokesman, asked about the case, quipped: “I’ve found that, actually, the children of biracial couples can do pretty good.”
Louisiana Justice of the Peace Denies Marriage License to Interracial Couple - Associated Content - associatedcontent.com
Not the pride of Harvard Class '83.
http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/vitter-refuses-to-comment-on-justice-who-wont-marry-interracial-couples.php
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
The Simple Life: Infantrymen maintain, improve austere Afghanistan FOB
"It's like being at summer camp."
The Simple Life: Infantrymen maintain, improve austere Afghanistan FOB
The Simple Life: Infantrymen maintain, improve austere Afghanistan FOB
Economist's View: "How the Servant Became a Predator: Finance’s Five Fatal Flaws"
What is wrong with finance.
Economist's View: "How the Servant Became a Predator: Finance’s Five Fatal Flaws"
Economist's View: "How the Servant Became a Predator: Finance’s Five Fatal Flaws"
And I thought it was kinda pretty...
"In South Kent, about 13 miles into the trip, we stopped to examine the covered bridge at Kent Falls, which was gray and unadorned and paved with cement. It was, I’m guessing, the least exciting covered bridge in the world."
NYT travel
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Vernon Smith on Elinor Ostrom
On Nobel prize winner Elinor Ostrom.
The commons are not always tragic.
Marginal Revolution: Vernon Smith on Elinor Ostrom
The commons are not always tragic.
Marginal Revolution: Vernon Smith on Elinor Ostrom
Cost Cuts Lift Profits but Hinder Economy - WSJ.com
"Things are better, but compared to what"
How will the economy grow with private net investment at -0.1 percent of gdp?
Cost Cuts Lift Profits but Hinder Economy - WSJ.com
How will the economy grow with private net investment at -0.1 percent of gdp?
Cost Cuts Lift Profits but Hinder Economy - WSJ.com
Monday, October 12, 2009
The Root Causes of Divorce:
Add another one:
"Increase in opportunity cost of maintaining marriage".
The Root Causes of Divorce: The Usual Suspects, Bryan Caplan | EconLog | Library of Economics and Liberty
"Increase in opportunity cost of maintaining marriage".
The Root Causes of Divorce: The Usual Suspects, Bryan Caplan | EconLog | Library of Economics and Liberty
Saturday, October 10, 2009
The Problem with Economics
Much of economic papers in behavioral science are "awful amateur-hour sociology".
D-squared Digest -- FOR bigger pies and shorter hours and AGAINST more or less everything else
D-squared Digest -- FOR bigger pies and shorter hours and AGAINST more or less everything else
Rebuilding employment
The most important economic problem facing the US today: how to grow jobs.There are only three ways to do it:
to expand employment in existing companies, to stimulate the creation of new businesses, and to recruit relocation of existing businesses from other regions.
UnderstandingSociety: Rebuilding employment
But the room for policy is not clear. The best, but long term effort, is to increase the number of highly educated employees in the area.
"The goal of increasing the percentage of baccalaureate-level adults in a region is a crucial element of our future economic success"
to expand employment in existing companies, to stimulate the creation of new businesses, and to recruit relocation of existing businesses from other regions.
UnderstandingSociety: Rebuilding employment
But the room for policy is not clear. The best, but long term effort, is to increase the number of highly educated employees in the area.
"The goal of increasing the percentage of baccalaureate-level adults in a region is a crucial element of our future economic success"
A CRE News Summary
Vacancy in commercial is growing. This means that banks will be forced to take another round of writedowns. Are they ready for it?
Calculated Risk: A CRE News Summary
Calculated Risk: A CRE News Summary
Friday, October 09, 2009
WeeklyClaimsOct8
People are saying that this is a good number?
Still a lot of job losses compared to normal times.
WeeklyClaimsOct8.jpg (image)
Still a lot of job losses compared to normal times.
WeeklyClaimsOct8.jpg (image)
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Outsourcing
Why outsourcing is good for the average worker.
More American Workers Outsourcing Own Jobs Overseas | The Onion - America's Finest News Source
More American Workers Outsourcing Own Jobs Overseas | The Onion - America's Finest News Source
Strip Mall Vacancy Rate Hits 10.3%, Highest Since 1992
Jim the Realtor is obviously not looking at commercial. Disconnect now between resi and commercial
Calculated Risk: Reis: Strip Mall Vacancy Rate Hits 10.3%, Highest Since 1992
Calculated Risk: Reis: Strip Mall Vacancy Rate Hits 10.3%, Highest Since 1992
"No shortage of buyers"
Jim the Realtor turns bullish.
But the question is whether the tax credit is the impetus or is there pure demand.
Jim thinks that the demand is real.
Calculated Risk: Jim the Realtor: "No shortage of buyers"
But the question is whether the tax credit is the impetus or is there pure demand.
Jim thinks that the demand is real.
Calculated Risk: Jim the Realtor: "No shortage of buyers"
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Fed Worries about CRE Grow
The next shoe to drop. Although it seems that much of this is already priced in the market, banks will have another round of bad earnings related to CRE. Vacancy rates reached 16%.
Calculated Risk: Fed Worries about CRE Grow
Calculated Risk: Fed Worries about CRE Grow
Sunday, October 04, 2009
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