Archive for All Posts
Defending the Superfreaks from Brad DeLong
In my new post at MasterResource, I give the background on Superfreakonomics and then defend Levitt from Brad DeLong’s claims that his views are “just not economics.” An excerpt: DeLong is right, what Levitt said is “not economics.” Rather, it’s a historical claim. Maybe it’s right, maybe it’s wrong, but DeLong can’t trump it by […]
Read moreLandsburg Takes It Easy On Dawkins
This morning I had an email from Steve Landsburg in my inbox. I thought that he was either inviting me to co-author a book with him, or wanted to tell me he was using my PIG to Capitalism as the main textbook in his graduate classes. Turns out it was an automatic message letting me […]
Read moreThe Seasteading Institute’s Annual Report (from last April)
I decided to check in on Patri Friedman and The Seasteading Institute. I’m very excited for them to actually get a floating residence up and running in international waters. I think the oceans will be the frontier of the 21st century. Anyway here is their one-year report [.pdf] from last April. They opened up shop […]
Read moreMore Fun With the Intertubes
Aristos passes on this neat trick: (1) Go to Google. (2) Type in “Location of Chuck Norris” (3) Click “I’m Feeling Lucky.” Now my question for the internet geeks in the crowd: Did it take a while for this page to become the top hit and for the joke to work? Or were there just […]
Read moreMore 3-Strikes Horror Stories
Many states have “three strikes” laws, where you have to do serve huge mandatory prison sentences once you’re convicted of your third felony. The rationale for such a rule is obvious: “Liberal activist judges” weren’t obeying the law, and were letting repeat offenders back on the streets after a slap on the wrist. Lock those […]
Read moreSchwarzenegger’s Cryptic Veto Letter
I realize most of you have already heard about this, but in case it’s news to you: Try to decipher the hidden message in Ahnold’s veto letter. =================================To the Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 1176 without my signature. For some time now I have lamented the fact that major […]
Read moreAtlas Sound Money Essay Contest
Full details here. An excerpt: Prizes: * The overall winner of the Essay Contest will receive a cash prize of $5000. * Two additional prizes of $1000 each will be given to outstanding essays written by junior faculty, graduate students, or policy writers. * Three additional prizes of $500 each will be given to outstanding […]
Read moreCulled From the Email Outbox: The EPA’s Estimates of Cap-and-Trade Impacts
Since I’m so busy lately I have switched to just reproducing things I write for work. Lower overhead means lower costs; I pass the savings on to you. I was giving someone a quick reaction to the EPA’s analysis of S. 1733, the Senate version (sponsored by Barbara Boxer and John Kerry) of cap-and-trade. (It […]
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