October 2009

Calling the Next Bubble: is There Currently a “Dollar-Led Asset Bubble”?

Michael Giberson The list of people who agreed, after the fact, that yes there was a {internet company | real estate | … | tulip bulb} price bubble is frequently longer than the list of people who publicly announce a bubble in unequivocal terms in advance of a crash.  But here you have someone willing …

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In Principle I’m in Favor of Spending Money on Economists

Michael Giberson George Soros has promised to spend $5 million a year for 10 years to support an Institute for New Economic Thinking to be hosted at Central European University in Budapest.  According to the INET website, the Institute will make research grants, convene symposia, and establish a journal. As part of the announcement, Soros …

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Unfair Prices and Moral Progress

Michael Giberson Unfair Prices Daniel Little, at Understanding Society, asks about “Fair Prices?”  In exploring the topic he draws some upon E.P. Thompson’s studies of the English working class: E. P. Thompson’s work on early modern Britain reminds us that there was a “moral economy of the crowd” that profoundly challenged the legitimacy of the …

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Melissa Thomasson on This American Life on Health Insurance

Lynne Kiesling The NPR Planet Money folks do a great job of communicating complicated economic ideas with more nuance and sophistication than any other media folks around. The most recent episode of This American Life is an outstanding example: 392: Someone Else’s Money This week, we bring you a deeper look inside the health insurance …

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Taxpayer Dollars to Support Utility Smart Grid Expenses

Michael Giberson Rebecca Smith reporting in the Wall Street Journal, “Obama to Name ‘Smart Grid’ Projects“: The Obama administration is expected Tuesday to name 100 utility projects that will share $3.4 billion in federal stimulus funding to speed deployment of advanced technology designed to cut energy use and make the electric-power grid more robust. When …

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Mcardle on the Search for Financial Villians; Indiviglio on Electric Cars and Power Costs

Michael Giberson Worth reading: Megan McArdle, “The Search for Financial Villains Founders,” at The Atlantic: Business Channel. Apparently, damning remarks taken out of context from emails are not so damning when considered within the original context. On the other hand, I’m not so convinced by the earlier post at The Atlantic Business Channel by Daniel …

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More Post-season Tournament Design Issues: Mls Tiebreakers

Michael Giberson For DC United fans, the MLS season is over.  While some fans contemplate coaching and roster changes, a few of us are still scratching our heads about the MLS tiebreaker rules and the complications presented by the final weekend of play (which had five teams angling for two remaining post-season positions. See here …

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Calomiris on Econtalk

Lynne Kiesling If you aren’t listening to EconTalk (and you should be, it’s wonderful!), you will miss Russ Roberts talking with Charlie Calomiris about financial crises. Truly, simply, unequivocally outstanding. Charlie brings the perspective of an economic historian along with his prodigious background in macroeconomic theory and his deep institutional knowledge about banking history. Almost …

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