Bob Murphy

Author Archive

Melania Trump Plagiarism: Crazy Like a Fox?

I posted this on Facebook: OK watch this: SUPPOSE for one second that the Trump campaign–which defied all the odds and managed to knock out the Bush dynasty plus some other candidates that were ostensibly qualified politicians–isn’t completely stupid. SUPPOSE for one second that they wouldn’t let a plagiarized speech by the candidate’s wife slip […]

Steve Landsburg and I Disagree About Politics

Steve thinks that Hillary Clinton should pick Jeb Bush as her VP, and that in so doing she would win in a landslide. I said in a comment: “I think if Hillary and Jeb were on the same ticket, Trump would quite plausibly tell people, “See folks? There’s no Dem vs. Rep. It’s the elites […]

Two Snarky Comments on Sumner

With all of my traveling this summer, I worry that Scott Sumner feels I am neglecting him. (After all, I have a weekly podcast devoted to Krugman–have I forgotten my Market Monetarist friends?) So as to partially rectify my benign neglect, here are two snarky comments on recent Sumner posts: ==> In this post responding […]

Hubris, Doubt, and Faith

I am pretty sure Richard Feynman once said something like, “In science, we have to have the courage to say, ‘We don’t know,’” and in context he was criticizing the religious mindset. (If someone knows the exact quote, let me know and I’ll update the post.) Believe me, having gone through an extensive period of […]

Catching up on Podcasts

==> Tom and I talk Trump, globalization, and Chinese currency manipulation in the latest Contra Krugman. ==> Carlos and I talk Brexit in the latest Lara-Murphy Show.

Sobran on Intrinsic Excellence of Christianity

Joe Sobran wrote this essay a while ago at Easter time, and it echoes what I was saying last week. Some of his particular statements I don’t find persuasive, but below are some of the good ones: Then there is the argument from comparative religion. Religions are a lot alike, they can’t all be true, […]

Federal Expenditures and Tax Receipts Over Time

I had to make this chart for a recent presentation, and thought it was interesting. Notice that taxes as a share of GDP tripled during WW2, and stayed up there for a decade. Notice also how high spending is, compared to historical levels. (Be careful, I think on this chart “current expenditures” is not the […]

George Will Comes to His Senses

…and leaves the GOP. But, not to be a sore winner here, I don’t think one of his reasons makes sense. According to the press accounts, one of the last straws for Will was Trump’s “racist” comments about the “Mexican” judge who couldn’t be fair in his trial, because of Trump’s policies/remarks about Mexicans. OK, […]