Relevant and even prescient commentary on news, politics and the economy.

A thought for Sunday: the march of demographics and the 2018 midterms

(Dan here…Better late than never!) A thought for Sunday: the march of demographics and the 2018 midterms Below is a graph showing that the older the demographic (up until age 80), the bigger the turnout during midterm elections. The data behind this graph isn’t just from 2014, but from a series of midterm elections over time […]

Jeffrey Sachs on Trump’s Trade Fallacies

Jeffrey Sachs on Trump’s Trade Fallacies I heard on some news show an incredibly stupid statement from our President earlier today and in utter disbelief fired off this comment on some blog: Trump equates our trade deficit with us being ripped off. Let’s do this as a simple example. You walk into Best Buy and […]

Eastern Economic Association Conference

Eastern Economic Association Conference So, I returned late last night from Boston where I presented three papers at the 44th Eastern Economic Association conference.  Only about 70% of those preregistered made it due to weather, with airport and train station both closed on Friday, first full day of conference. One of those who did not […]

Saudi Crown Prince Tortures Fellow Princes

Saudi Crown Prince Tortures Fellow Princes A new report by Hugh Miles at Middle East Monitor, Is the “Saudi Elite Cannibalizing Itself?” by Juan Cole, reports the recent purge of supposedly corrupt princes and high officials was (and continues to be) much more horrendous than previously reported, which I fear does not surprise me. Apparently […]

Climate Change and Environmental Frames: The Consensus-Action Disconnect

(Dan here…I am always looking for new writers that might make a good fit for AB.  Cactusman  is in the field of behavioral economics in the private sector.  I know that the topic of climate change is a hot one here, but remember this is his first here…) by Cactusman Climate Change and Environmental Frames: The […]

Is the secular economic season beginning to change (Part 2)

Is the secular economic season beginning to change (Part 2) – by New Deal democratThe selloff of a month ago may well be the harbinger of a fundamental change in the relationship between bond yields and stock prices, one that is likely to persist for the next 10 years or so, as  part of a very […]