Economics

Archive for Economics

Having Conquered Health Care, Feds Turn Turret to Energy Sector

Just when you thought we’d escaped New Deal II–“this time, it’s personal”–here’s an announcement today from the EPA: WASHINGTON – Under a final decision issued today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) no stationary sources will be required to get Clean Air Act permits that cover greenhouse gases (GHGs) before January 2011. EPA has […]

Learn Austrian Business Cycle Theory!

(Cross-posted at Mises.org.) I am a very awkward promoter, which is why it’s such a good thing that this online class in Austrian business cycle theory sells itself. Just click the link. We are tentatively scheduling the live lectures at 7pm EST, to accommodate as many time zones as possible. Of course, if you have […]

The Bounty of Capitalism

I just posted this over at the Mises Blog. I am disagreeing with Sheldon Richman’s critique of the word capitalism for libertarian usage. An excerpt: ===== This was all driven home for me when Grayson Lilburne sent me an email on Friday. We are working out the bugs before we formally launch the promotion for […]

Is Bryan Caplan Hedging With the Phillips Curve?!

Bryan Caplan has bet me that (price) inflation will be no big deal. Spotting an easy mark, Mish rushed in for his piece of the action, as Bryan explains: On the fiscal crisis panel, Mish predicted high unemployment for the next ten years. This provoked a lot of heat but little light. Over dinner, though, […]

Yes, Victor Aguilar Paid Me the $1000

A lot of people have asked me if Victor Aguilar actually paid me $1000 when I answered his critique of Austrian economics. Yes, he did.

An Idea for Libertarian-ish Social Security Reform

How about this? The government says to current workers, “OK, we will pay you the present discounted value of what we owe you actuarially for Social Security at the current benefit scale, but we will throw on a 50% penalty. Do you want to take the deal?” Presumably millions would. Then the government says, “OK, […]

Ben Stein Wants Props for Being More Socialist Than Obama

I truncated the post title a little bit for brevity, and a lot to be provocative, but you tell me if I’ve mischaracterized Ben Stein’s thoughts on passage of the health insurance legislation (HT2 DRH): [W]ith some justification, most of the media rejoiced that national health care had arrived for people with low incomes, with […]

Murphy Collaborates With the Russians

This is obviously old, since healthcare “reform” is not yet a done deal in our discussion. But I think the interview is still instructive, if only for those of you who may one day find yourself talking to news anchors while sitting on a kneeling chair. Remember kids, always assume the camera is still on […]