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

Reflections on Anwar Shaikh: Equation for Corporate Profit Rate

A couple weeks ago, I found the work of Anwar Shaikh. Briefly, he has developed unique and better models to describe the economy, so that there is no need to use rational expectations, utility functions, monopoly power, and much more. He describes the economy as always developing around the central aspects of Real Competition and […]

Kevin Durant’s New Oaktown Crib

OK actually about half a mile from the Oakland border. But as a Bay Area ex-pat I am kind of drooling over the Warriors up-side (and they are already pretty up). Suck it Lakers.

It’s An Idea (not all) Economists View With Contempt…

As the derisive name suggests, it’s an idea economists view with contempt, yet the fallacy makes a comeback whenever the economy is sluggish. — Paul Krugman Isabel V. Sawhill (Brookings): “Time for a shorter work week?“ Dean Baker: “Shorter Workweeks Will Defeat the Robots“ Eva Swidler: “Radical Leisure“ Ilana E. Strauss: “Would a Work-Free World Be […]

Now I understand why Representatives can’t control their crazy impulses

Dan here….Lifted from Robert’s Stochastic Thoughts: Robert Waldmann says: Now I understand why Representatives can’t control their crazy impulses Calling Kevin Drum A House office’s water supply has been tainted by high lead levels and may be unsafe, according to a warning blasted out to congressional offices Tuesday night. via Steve Benen (of course) So […]

Phil Ebersole: Monopoly power and what to do about it

Blogger Phil Ebersole writes today in a post titled “Monopoly power and what to do about it” (all boldface in original): The trouble with the U.S. economy is monopoly power. Concentrated business power means less consumer choice, less opportunity for entrepreneurs and greater concentration of wealth. Senator Elizabeth Warren Senator Elizabeth Warren described the problem very […]

How "the Ultimatum Game" explains the Populist backlash to Globalism

by New Deal democrat How “the Ultimatum Game” explains the Populist backlash to Globalism All over the developed world there has been an erupting surge of both left-wing (Sanders, Corbyn, Syriza in Greece, Podemos in Spain) and right-wing (Trump, UKIP, France’s LePen) populism.  The global elites recoil in horror.  According to most tellings of mainstream […]

“Why Are Voters Ignoring Experts?”

That is the question Jean Pisani-Ferry asks at Project Syndicate. In the wake of the Brexit vote there is a veritable chorus of experts and economists asking the same question. One explanation I don’t expect to see very often is that the supposed experts systematically ignore their own critical literature. Hubris. Professor Pisani-Ferry inadvertently presents an […]