The curious task of economics is to demonstrate to men how little they really know about what they imagine they can design. – F.A. Hayek
Posted in Flotsam and Jetsam, ethical foundations on Jan 11th, 2012
OK, so maybe I am exaggerating a little. In the preface to Pricing the Future, author George Szpiro does what many of us only gnash our teeth about. Here is the excerpt: At this point in the preface, it is customary to have thank those who helped in the preparation of the book. Here I [...]
Posted in Education, Flotsam and Jetsam on Jan 9th, 2012
I run through recent economics journal/working paper activity on Monday mornings. Here are some very attenuated bits of interest: Government mergers of hospitals in England do not produce better outcomes. (Same is true for privates, we knew this and the government went ahead anyway). High quality grammar school teachers have an impact that lasts a [...]
Posted in Flotsam and Jetsam on Dec 24th, 2011
Here I run a little ditty in the same exact form as it appeared in 2008. Sad that so little of it is out of date, and of course you’re all welcome to whistle a few new versus to keep up with the times. … and all through the land consumption is slowing, and investors [...]
Posted in Flotsam and Jetsam on Dec 14th, 2011
NOTICE: I am neither paid now nor have ever been paid by PERC. I will note that I have paid people from PERC to do events for me in my old job and that former PERC employees have invited me to other events (sometimes for pay) in their new organizations. If you’re looking for an [...]
Posted in Flotsam and Jetsam on Dec 3rd, 2011
And then I woke up. Robert Bradley shares an intellectual experience with us: And of course there is John Holdren, now science advisor to President Obama, who graciously rejoined as follows when I asked him to critically review my essay evaluating his 2003 criticism of Bjorn Lomborg, “The Heated Energy Debate.” Holdren responded: What exactly entitles you to [...]
Posted in Flotsam and Jetsam, ethical foundations on Nov 25th, 2011
(1) You know how “hair of the dog” strategies help with a hangover? How come the same isn’t true of turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie! (2) I am seriously disturbed by Black Friday, and yes I am one of the world’s most ardent proponents of free-market capitalism. Have a nice day.
Posted in Education, Flotsam and Jetsam on Nov 20th, 2011
Now the kids are Occupying Wall Street! Is that child labor? Here’s my favorite part: “I’m for the arts,” Moogan told HuffPost. “I’m a singer and I’m an actress. In my school, we’ve been hit by the economy. Our parents have to pay out of their own pockets for dance, music and theater. That’s not [...]
Posted in Flotsam and Jetsam on Nov 20th, 2011
Did you even stop to think about why the concern is with the “Top 1%?” Why not the top 3%? Or perhaps the top tenth of one-percent? Maybe it’s harder to write up signs that say, “We are the 97.5%?” Has anyone ever provided a justification as to why, if you are in the top [...]
Posted in Flotsam and Jetsam, Methodology, Politics on Nov 8th, 2011
Some of you may be familiar with the work of the Economic Policy Institute -the organization that “Works for People Who Work for a Living.” You can imagine what that euphemism means. It means higher minimum wages, free health care for everybody, lots and lots of union jobs, and so forth. But don’t I work [...]
Posted in Flotsam and Jetsam on Oct 26th, 2011
Some of you may remember this commercial: Now, I was watching a show this weekend when I saw the latest from Audi, talking about how America’s infrastructure is crumbling so that you should buy an Audi which has the unique ability to handle it. Would have been nice if they put up this chart. Note [...]
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