Archive for Bryan Caplan
Two Views (?) On Using Bets to Test Economic Theories
Back in December, when Brad DeLong said I needed to study at the feet of Krugman because I lost an inflation bet to David R. Henderson, and then Bryan Caplan objected to the tone of the statements, Daniel Kuehn wrote: I thought the whole point of betting on predictions was to weed out BS and […]
Read moreGreat Posts on the Minimum Wage
It’s reassuring to see that if I ever decided to retire to the Caribbean permanently, my US-based free-market colleagues would carry forward the torch of liberty. Here are some great posts on the minimum wage: ==> Steve Landsburg ==> Bryan Caplan ==> Scott Sumner (though it’s on ObamaCare technically, but could be applied to minimum […]
Read moreWhy Aren’t There More Libertarian Girls?
Oh wow, this issue is exploding. Tom Woods expresses his feelings, and Bryan Caplan weighs in. In case you haven’t seen it, this is the video that annoyed Steve Horwitz and Sarah Skwire: I am going to offer some quick thoughts. But first, a disclaimer: I am not going to keep writing “in general” or […]
Read moreCaplan’s Parental Experience
Bryan opens a recent post by saying: My eldest sons just turned ten, which means I’ve been a father for ten years. Ergo, it’s time to inventory the top things I’ve learned from my decade of experience. In no particular order: Now in his list, some of the items make sense to me, while others […]
Read moreI Think Bryan Caplan Should Tweak His Quality Control Setting
Yesterday at EconLog Bryan Caplan had a post entitled “Optimal Open-Mindedness” in which he wrote: Lately a few people have accused me of being “closed-minded.” As they’d predict, I reject the accusation. I say my degree of openness is close to optimal. Consistent with Bayesian reasoning, I am as reluctant to claim vindication by events as I […]
Read moreIf Bryan Caplan Had His Way, We Would Never Have Heard of David Henderson
Bryan Caplan argues that because most people don’t remember or use algebra as adults, it fails a cost-benefit test and shouldn’t be taught. Bryan acknowledges that people who go on to take calculus retain their knowledge of algebra even into adulthood, but doesn’t draw the obvious inference–that people with mathematical aptitude first take algebra, and […]
Read moreBryan Caplan Turns the Tables on the Libertarian Haters
Bryan Caplan gives a great rhetorical tip to people debating libertarianism. (I gather there are at least 3 of you on the Internet.) I am going to copy and paste most of his post because you really need to see the full context: “What if a poor person gets sick, doesn’t have insurance, and can’t […]
Read more“What Model Is Ben Bernanke Using?!”
The bitter von Pepe sends this John Taylor blog post from early July: In a recent speech at Stanford (video here) former Wells Fargo Chairman and CEO Dick Kovacevich told the full story of how he was forced to take TARP funds even though Wells Fargo did not need or want the funds. The forcing event […]
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