rdanSimon Smelt at Seeking Alpha discusses how the US and China are “communicating” national interests. He points to three important, very broad messages needing interpretation and analysis: In summary: 1. In 2005 a bilateral Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) between China and the U.S. was set up. Reportedly, Beijing has put a lot of effort into […]
“Countable Infinity“ The extension of this is that I can have infinite resources, and still sleep under a bridge.
Robert Waldmann Arnold Kling (via Matt Yglesias) argues that economists agree more about microeconomics than about macroeconomics. My take on this is that the consensus of economists is likely to be more reliable on microeconomic issues than it is on macroeconomic issues. In my view, fundamental macroeconomic issues are unsettled. It makes sense to have […]
Talking Points Memo got ahold of a confidential summary of the Conference compromise Stimulus Conference Agreement Chart Long and detailed, only the wonks need apply. If I see something interesting I will update the post or put up a new one. Otherwise fell free to dive in.
By Spencer, Our conservative/libertarian friends keep saying the FDR made the recovery from the 1929-33 economic downturn weak. I keep asking them weak compared to what, and they never have an answer. When I look at the data series like this I find it hard to accept that the recovery under FDR was weak. 1940 […]
rdan This piece of stormy’s post caught my attention: But ask yourselves–ask Krugman, ask Roubini, ask Martin Feldstein, ask any economist: What will be the engine of our economic recovery? The stimulus package can, at best, only blunt the worst effects of this economic crisis. And, the most overt forms of protectionism may come into […]
rdan Governors are taking a look at the current demands on their National Guard troops. “There is not Congressional authorization for the use of the Guard today,” Vermont State Rep. Mike Fisher told Truthout. “One Guard member improperly called into federal service to fight a war – that’s a real problem. Choosing to go to […]
by Bruce Webb Politicians tasked with convincing democratic majorities that they should oppose minimum wage increases generally fall back on the economic argument that such increases simply lead to job losses. Often they go on to point out that these losses fall disproportionately on the young, the unskilled, or minorities. Before examining whether this argument […]
Robert Waldmann The Geithner plan has been announced and the Dow has dropped 381.99 so far today Reminds me of this by Daniel Drezner [O]ne could forgive Geithner right now if his head swelled just a little bit. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shot up five hundred points on Friday as word of his appointment […]
Via Stefan Karlsson, Kash guest-posts at EconBrowser. With—as will come as no surprise to long-time AB readers—lots of graphics.