Bob Murphy

Author Archive

Tatiana and Bob Talk Economics

Sumner Trolls Krugman

A great post from Scott, when he goes after my favorite Keynesian. Here’s the zinger from Scott: [Scott quoting Krugman:] The one sense in which Ireland has made some progress is that it has somewhat reassured bond investors that its population will continue to sullenly acquiesce in austerity; as a result, Irish 10-year rates, while […]

Rob Bradley Points Out Awkward Jerry Taylor Quote

In a recent MasterResource post: “Let’s switch out for a better [climate] policy…. Then conservative activists who continue to be in the denialist camp on climate change will find themselves completely isolated.” – Jerry Taylor, quoted in “Libertarian Group Takes on Conservatives on Carbon Tax.” Energy & Environmental News (sub. req.), March 3, 2016. “Alarmists … clearly […]

Correcting Krugman on Trade

Lately Krugman has been “correcting” right-wingers who justify trade liberalization on the grounds that it creates jobs. Yes that is a defensible opinion (because with flexible wages everybody can get a job, even under a complete blockade), but the way Krugman defends it is wacky. He talks about job growth in exporting industries offsetting job loss in […]

Checking in on the Climate Models

I summarize the recent Working Paper from Cato climate scientists Pat Michaels and Chip Knappenberger. An excerpt: The reason for constructing the chart in this fashion is that nobody can accuse Michaels and Knappenberger of cherry-picking starting years and (thus) trend durations. This chart contains information pertaining to the trend warming—both in the computer models […]

Murphy Growth Plan for St. Patrick’s Day

Actually the article ran yesterday but I didn’t notice until today… My latest at FEE takes up the Gerald Friedman conundrum. An excerpt: Turning to students: according to the Census Bureau, about 17 million are enrolled in high school. Assume that with no coercion and with plenty of entry-level jobs (thanks to abolition of the […]

Scott Sumner Better Not Play “Go”

…because he apparently can’t look one move ahead. (Folks, cut me some slack. I’ve been out of town for a while and I’m sure Scott misses me.) Here’s Scott talking about Hit– I mean Donald Trump: Trump does not seem to understand how democracy works. The whole point of conventions is to deny the nomination […]