Homines libenter quod volunt credunt
Posted in Disingenuous, Economics Problems, Environment, You Can't Have it Both Ways on Sep 5th, 2014
In reading various papers and books that talk about biodiversity and the need to both measure and promote it (agreed!), you will encounter an idea of a thing called an “Indicator Species.” These would be species to examine, in part, to understand how healthy or threatened an ecosystem is. In various books on oceans I […]
Posted in Economics Problems, Economists, Employment, ethical foundations on Aug 17th, 2014
Lest one wonder if Wintercow has truly disconnected I’ll just remind folks that I’m not permitted to comment on the goings on in Ferguson or Iraq or Palestine or just about anywhere for that matter. I’m a resident member and practicing oppressor, paid by corporations and clandestine organizations to subtly promote and continue this oppression […]
Posted in Economic Illiteracy, Economics Problems on Jun 30th, 2014
Except when “we” preach it: It’s better for the economy. When you buy local, a large percentage of the money stays in your community. The farmer can afford to have the local mechanic fix his truck, the mechanic can afford to hire a local accountant to do his taxes, and the accountant can afford dinner out at a […]
Posted in Economic Illiteracy, Economics Problems, Macroeconomics, You Can't Have it Both Ways on May 20th, 2014
GDP = National Income. It is argued that GDP is not a reliable measure of well-being. I agree. Therefore income is not a reliable measure of well-being. Therefore income inequality is not a reliable measure of the distribution of well-being. And before you jump into my tribal pool, this could very well mean that well […]
Posted in Central Planning, Corporatism, Economic Illiteracy, Economics Problems, Economists, Government Gone Wild, If I Really Hated the Poor ..., Transportation and Infrastructure, You Can't Have it Both Ways on May 7th, 2014
The emperor indeed has no clothes and it’s apparently a feature of the argument, not a bug: Barry Ritholtz: U.S. on Highway to Flunking Out, by Barry Ritholtz: Roads are crumbling, bridges are collapsing, and what was once considered one of the greatest achievements of any government anywhere has fallen into embarrassing disrepair. I am of course discussing our […]
Posted in Economics Problems on Apr 21st, 2014
How many economics departments actually teach a class on the Great Depression? The Depression is perhaps the greatest, most difficult to understand economic episode in modern U.S. history. How many economics departments offer a class on political economy, and in particular one that pays attention to the Public Choice school of economics? I suppose those […]
Posted in Economics Problems, Economists on Apr 19th, 2014
Let me preface what I am about to write with an admission of some thoughts that have nagged me lately. Those thoughts include that I am increasingly sympathetic with leftist concerns about super-wealthy people and their outsized influence on the world (won’t go into the reasons why at the moment). Let me also recognize that […]
Posted in Economic Illiteracy, Economics Problems, Health Care on Apr 17th, 2014
Here is the latest from Vox: Obamacare succeeded for one simple reason: it’s horrible to be uninsured So here we’ve come. Now the entire health care reform is a success because … people signed up for it. That’s sort of a low bar isn’t it? Well, maybe not: The health-care law beat its mark because it […]
Posted in Economics Problems, Economists on Apr 10th, 2014
I recommend to all of you to read Vox, which is Ezra Klein’s new enterprise. It is definitely a progressive site, but if all you do is read sites you agree with a priori I’d suggest you’re not understanding the full picture of the ideas you care deeply about. The folks who write for Vox […]
Posted in Economic Illiteracy, Economics Problems, You Can't Have it Both Ways on Mar 12th, 2014
Now it seems that the offering of options to people is now morally questionable, and perhaps even exploited: “This means that even if you have no possessions to sell and cannot find a job, nobody can reasonably criticise you for, say, failing to sell a kidney to pay your rent. If a free market in […]