Economics

Archive for Economics

A Quick Note on the Free-Market Discussion of Say’s Law

[UPDATE in the text.] In my last post I linked to a critique of my position on Say’s Law, and said that because the writer (“Smiling Dave”) went so far as to wonder aloud if I had even *read* Say’s Law, that it wasn’t worth my time debating him. In the comments, long-time commenter “Major […]

Murphy Tackles the White House 2014 Budget Proposal

I like to beat up on Paul Ryan etc. for being faux-tough on the fiscal problem, but man oh man, in this IER post I go through the Obama Administration’s 2014 Budget Proposal. They don’t even pretend to improve things. I ended up writing this post pretty late at night, and was feeling saucy. I […]

Team Brittany Interviews Murphy

The schtick with these ladies is that they are all named Brittany (really), hence the name “Team Brittany.” We talk about Bitcoin, the world economy, voting, my man-crush on Barney Frank, and tips for karaoke. Lots of giggling ensued (from them, not me).

Potpourri

==> Lessons for the Young Economist is now poised to infiltrate China. ==> I am quoted in this article about Bitcoin, saying something noncommittal. ==> Tom Woods announces the Ron Paul Homeschool Curriculum. ==> I talk to Scott Horton about the Fed and U.S. wars. ==> A funny rant about the “I f**king love science!” […]

Guy Calls Cops on Fish Fry Buffet

At first I couldn’t believe the elementary error* in this Ozimek post which “proves” health insurance and all-you-can-eat buffets don’t exist, but that’s not important now. The important thing is to watch this short video. * Gene Callahan spotted it too, but let me put it more succinctly: How can there be restaurants at all […]

Cool Quote From Mises

Came across this while reviewing something for a client… We are the lucky heirs of our father and forefathers whose saving has accumulated the capital goods with the aid of which we are working today. We favorite children of the age of electricity still derive advantage from the original saving of the primitive fishermen who, […]

IMF Study Calling for US Gas Taxes Is Pretty Sneaky

I give the details in this IER blog post: So how does the IMF study come up with such whopping tax proposals? Let’s walk through their Appendix Table 1 (page 44) to see the breakdown of their fuel tax suggestions… The proposal for the United States is 36 cents per liter, which works out to […]

DeLong Flirts With Notion That Stimulus Efforts Thus Far Have Gained Nothing on the Margin

It’s ironic. In this lengthy essay, Brad DeLong is obviously arguing about the urgent need for more stimulus. Yet he tries so hard that he achieves the opposite result he intended. (Sort of like me on the dating scene in college.) Here’s DeLong: In the 12 years of the Great Depression – between the stock-market […]