That economists and politicians view the world through a different set of glasses is not surprising, and immigration is a good example of how different those views are. Marginal Revolution: Open Letter on Immigration Immigrants do not take American jobs. The American economy can create as many jobs as there are workers willing to work [...]
President Bush speaks on immigration tonight. I fear that we will hear mostly silly political posturing, but I’m ready to be surprised. While we wait, this article has some interesting things to say about the situation. Guardian WatchBlog If the President wants us to believe he’s finally heard our demands for a secure border, he [...]
If your economic education is influenced by what you hear from many pulpits, your knee-jerk answer to the question will likely be that exploitation is a bad thing. Kruse Kronicle: When Exploitation is Mutually Beneficial None of this is to downplay the fact that conditions of life in poor countries are positively awful compared to [...]
As petrol prices rise, policymakers and venture capitalists are suddenly embracing funky alternatives. Will the fad last? In a word; no. Alternative energy | Canola and soya to the rescue | Economist.com When oilman George Bush calls for more research into ethenol and biodiesel, you know that the beltway disease has struck again. Panic on [...]
More on April madness in congress from the online Wall Street Journal. WSJ.com – Congress Gone Wild But forgive us for talking about actual substance. Like college kids on spring break, Congress is letting it all hang out in a political bender of a kind we haven’t seen in years. This is what happens when [...]
Economist Arnold King has this to say about a Reuters story on the new Republican plan to soften the blow at the gas pump. EconLog, Senate Republicans: Give More Money to Iran, Arnold Kling: Library of Economics and Liberty So…for every gallon of gas we consume at the market-clearing price, we will pay less in [...]
Whoever it was that said that we usually get the government we deserve is proved right by the panic in Washington over $3-plus pump prices. Guardian WatchBlog Gas prices rise, and suddenly everyone in Washington becomes a raging anti-capitalist. (Washington D.C., that is — the other Washington already has more than its fair share.) Outrage [...]
The science of happiness. What nonsense! And the Government should help us be happy? Like the IRS has done? TCS Daily – Don’t Worry, Be Happy — Or Else With research into subjective well-being, economists are making statements about what constitutes the good life. In doing so, we are encroaching on territory once claimed by [...]
I consider myself just a distant kissin’ cousin to the real gold bugs, but I confess that I have a smidgen of the yellow stuff tucked away somewhere just in case. Now, after years of obscurity, gold is again getting some respect. Or at least some press. The bugs are back | Economist.com AFTER some [...]
Here’s a great article by Michael Kruse about what’s behind the ubiquitous cry for “rights” of one sort or another. Kruse Kronicle: Theology and Economics: Rights, Obligations and Justice Human rights. Civil rights. Property rights. Reproductive rights. Right to Life. Gay rights. Immigration rights. States rights. Right to privacy. Everywhere we look today there we [...]
