Bob Murphy

Author Archive

“Is This Thing On?”

This old post still gets some constructive feedback. Check out 5 of the last 6 comments. These guys actually think I was waiting for Hitchens to die, as if he would care what some economist put on a blog. This is the same attitude that makes Bill Nye say, “!@?#?@#? I can only conclude that […]

Murphy Triple Play

==> My latest article on IER discusses leakage. It’s a sensitive topic but ignoring our problems is no solution. ==> Tom Woods and I discuss globalization on Contra Krugman. ==> Carlos and I talk about BOLI (bank-owned life insurance) on the Lara-Murphy Show.

Bill Nye, the Strawman Guy

I was in the bookstore recently and couldn’t resist browsing Bill Nye’s book Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation. (I note, mostly for laughs, that his title is itself incorrect: His whole book is about a bunch of people who deny evolution.) Here’s a photo I took from the beginning. In just these two […]

Potpourri

==> Doug French has a somber article that incidentally mentions his battle with cancer. ==> Wow! Listen to Roger Stone talk with Lew Rockwell about the Bush family. ==> This Autor et al. paper has been getting a lot of attention. It apparently shows that US trade with China was bad for the US. I […]

Pay Tax Now or Later?

In this podcast and this blog post, Carlos and I help our audience to think through the ramifications of popular savings vehicles that allow a person to affect the timing of paying income tax.

Callahan Avoids the Rhetorical Traps Laid By His Interlocuters

In this post, Gene complains about the vacuity of the Turing Test. In the comments, three humans unanimously report that based on analysis of what Gene typed on his keyboard, they do not believe that he understands the Turing Test. Gene, being a good Irishman, immediately perceived the danger to his position in the argument. […]

Murphy Twin Spin

==> In the latest Contra Krugman where we were supposed to discuss income mobility, Tom goes rogue and starts complaining about public–I mean government–schools. I almost told the producer to cut to a commercial break, I was so taken aback. ==> At IER I discuss Oren Cass’ cool article that goes off on the new […]

The Lesser of Two Evils Is Still an Evil

Happy Easter everyone! He is risen indeed. No, this isn’t a post about the election. It’s broader than that. In our Bible study session this week we covered the horrible and amazing tale of Joseph, whose brothers sold him into slavery in Egypt but in so doing provided for their own salvation. (Note the similarity […]