One of the most important questions of the Arab revolution for the US. What happens to Al Qaeda?
Al Qaeda Finds Itself at a Crossroads - News Analysis - NYTimes.com
Al Qaeda Finds Itself at a Crossroads - News Analysis - NYTimes.com
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Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
USA Inc.
A surprising diversion from Mary Meeker. The USA in slides.
However it misses the most basic of points. The USA is not a corporation. We have made a choice to take care of the poor, the old and the sick. That, not the state of our balance sheet must define who we are.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Really Bad Reporting in Wisconsin: Who 'Contributes' to Public Workers' Pensions?
This article also highlights the point that defined contribution plans are a really good deal for Wall Street (triple the fees of institutional plans) and really bad deal for most individuals.
tax.com: Really Bad Reporting in Wisconsin: Who 'Contributes' to Public Workers' Pensions?:
tax.com: Really Bad Reporting in Wisconsin: Who 'Contributes' to Public Workers' Pensions?:
Good rules for journalists and for investors.
"And what are these two rules for journalists?
Rule One: Check it out. Be so skeptical that if your mother says she loves you, check it out.
Rule Two: Cross check again and again until you not only know the facts, but can put them in proper context and understand all sides so well that their perspective gets proper weight and lecture, or as I like to say, everyone recognizes their oar in the water."
Rule One: Check it out. Be so skeptical that if your mother says she loves you, check it out.
Rule Two: Cross check again and again until you not only know the facts, but can put them in proper context and understand all sides so well that their perspective gets proper weight and lecture, or as I like to say, everyone recognizes their oar in the water."
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
The Expert-Hubris Industries
The Expert-Hubris Industries, Arnold Kling | EconLog | Library of Economics and Liberty:
"If you are cautious and self-doubting, you have to act otherwise if you want people to believe you are a good ...
I would say that it is not the fault of the people in these professions that they select for hubris.
That late-stage medical procedure represents hope. For overcoming disadvantages with which people are born, education represents hope. For getting rich without having to work hard or save obsessively, money managers offer hope. And do I even need to say that people look to politicians to supply hope?
I would say that it is not the fault of the people in these professions that they select for hubris.
That late-stage medical procedure represents hope. For overcoming disadvantages with which people are born, education represents hope. For getting rich without having to work hard or save obsessively, money managers offer hope. And do I even need to say that people look to politicians to supply hope?
Wisconsin Union Battle:
Public workers are not overpaid when accounting for education levels. States have a revenue problem, not an expense problem.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
The Cheapest ETF Portfolio Gets Cheaper
Who needs brokers? What every investment portfolio should look like.
Power of the lobby.
Bi-partisan approval for 35 billion in spending for air travel. Why is rail so contentious.
Rules based legislation
Sign of the bigger issue: Wall Street and smart lawyers will find a way around most rules.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Toyota Opens Export Plant in Japan - WSJ.com
It is not just the US that has problems competing with China.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Lean Mean, Manufacturing Machine
The Street Light: A Lean, Mean, Manufacturing Machine: "My assessment is that nearly all of the low-hanging fruit that could be gathered by shifting production from the US to low-cost countries like China has already been picked. Companies for which it made sense to shift production to other countries have already done so"
Thursday, February 10, 2011
(Why the Republican Attack on "Job-Killing Regulations" is Dumb)
Aggregate demand caused the economic slump, not regulation.
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
THE CENTRAL BANK IS CAUSING INFLATION | PRAGMATIC CAPITALISM
China does it better: their fiscal stimulus was bigger and monetary stimulus was as well. China is more concerned about unemployment than inflation.
The Reagan myth
Not much good to remember about him.
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Political shift poses test for Elizabeth Warren - The Boston Globe
Consumer Protection for finance, DOA?
Did the Stimulus Stimulate? Real Time Estimates of the Effects of the American Readjustment and Recovery Act
Just the abstract for the paper. This suggests that the multiplier for the stimulus was somewhere between 0.5 and 1. These seem like reasonable numbers. High end estimate by proponents was 1.7. Low end was zero.
Monday, February 07, 2011
Sunday, February 06, 2011
The Great Stagnation Debate
Are you better off than 1973?
http://www.coordinationproblem.org/2011/02/are-we-better-off-today.html
Mark Thoma on the global aspect. Much of the world is much better off.
Thursday, February 03, 2011
When Irish Eyes Are Crying
Another Lewis classic. Personal side of a country's economic fall.
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
The Tiger Mother versus Cost-Benefit Analysis, Bryan Caplan | EconLog | Library of Economics and Liberty
I have hesitated to blog about the "Tiger Mother" , but this piece is really good.
Before you force your child to do anything ask these three questions:
1. Do I enjoy it?
2. Does my child enjoy it?
3. Are there any long term benefits?
The Problem of Structrual Unemployment: Really Incompetent Managers
Why structural unemployment theory does not explain high unemployment. If it were true, then wages would be rising. Wages are not rising.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
The Weak Heart of Economics - NYTimes.com
Economics and Economic policy; not the same.
From the comments: . "Ms Folbre is confusing nationalism with morality"
Corporations acting in their self interest have changed the lives of 100's of millions of Chinese and Indians. The issue of what happens to the US middle class is for the US government policy to deal with, not the responsibility of corporations.