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

Thank You Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky

Robert Waldmann Let me join Brad DeLong in Saying Let Me Join Pete Davis in Saying: “Thank You Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky”Pete Davis expresses the sentiment very well: Thank You Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky: I’ve always wanted to thank Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky (D-PA) for her courageous deciding vote for President Clinton’s 1993 deficit reduction bill. Her Republican colleagues jeered her […]

TEEN UNEMPLOYMENT AND THE MINIMUM WAGE

Recently the Wall Street Journal editorial page and numerous conservative/libertarian bloggers have shown charts comparing the last few years spike in the teen age ( 16-19 year olds) unemployment rate with the rise in the minimum wage in an attempt to blame rising teen unemployment in 2008 and 2009 to the minimum wage hike. But […]

Economics Bloggers Forum

Angry Bear Ken Houghton will be a panelist, and other participants in the conference include Mike Shedlock, Mark Thoma, Paul Romer, Alex Tabborak. Economics Bloggers Forum8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. CDTFriday, March 19, 2010 Watch leading economics, technology, and finance bloggers discuss key policy issues and cutting-edge research on topics related to entrepreneurship, innovation, and […]

John Quiggin Scores Again

Robert Waldmann I am very glad that John Quiggin has found a group even less worthy or respect than us macroeconomists. He writes It seemed for a little while as if the delusionists had scored another win, when Phil Jones, the scientist who has been most viciously target by the hackers/harassers gave an honest answer […]

‘Republican’ resurgence comes from shift in 65-85 year old group

American Conservative Magazine considers who is feeling the the new anger against ‘liberals’ from the Feb.17 Mt. Vernon statement of the Conservative statement of principles: One of the things that many people have noticed since the release of Mount Vernon statement on Wednesday is the sharp contrast between the youth of the creators (my link) […]

O.K., let’s just think about this budget thing for a while, Part I

To be sure, the U.S. government deficit is shocking; but it’s not anymore shocking than the recession through which we have all lived. Tax receipts plummeted (see the second chart from this post) and spending on cyclical social programs (like unemployment benefits) is surging. This adds up to an exponentially rising budget deficit, and thus […]