Category Archives: Economics

PLOWS AND GPS.

Posted on May 19, 2012 by Philip

PLOWS AND GPS. When I was in graduate school fifty years ago, a friend I admired was both a graduate student and responsible for the family farm. He said that a third party could be hired to do most jobs … Continue reading →

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5% TO 20%—THE BAD NEWS ABOUT “OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES”.

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Philip

5% TO 20%—THE BAD NEWS ABOUT “OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES”. Gautam Naik had an article in the Wall Street Journal (May 3) headlined “Analytical Trend Troubles Scientists”. The troubling trend is that “observational studies often use different methodologies and arrive at different … Continue reading →

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ARGUING THAT THE DARK AGES WEREN’T SO DARK.

Posted on May 12, 2012 by Philip

ARGUING THAT THE DARK AGES WEREN’T SO DARK. Nick, knowing that I am interested in the transition between the Roman Empire and the Middle Ages, gave me last Christmas BARBARIANS TO ANGELS: The Dark Ages Reconsidered by Peter S. Wells. … Continue reading →

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DAMIEN HIRST—AN ART MARKET BUBBLE?.

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Philip

DAMIEN HIRST AND THE ART MARKET. Damien Hirst is the world’s richest artist. Hari Kunzru in the Guardian (March 16) had an article about the market for Hirst’s art, raising the possibility that current prices could represent a bubble. Kunzru’s … Continue reading →

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THE FLY IN THE URINAL.

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Philip

THE FLY IN THE URINAL. Ralph Gardner had an article in his always interesting column in the Wall Street Journal (April 23) about the flies on the urinal walls in the terminals at JFK Airport. He tells about how he … Continue reading →

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HOW DO YOU PRINT IN 3 DIMENSIONS?

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Philip

HOW DO YOU PRINT IN 3 DIMENSIONS? Mary Jane had the same reaction that I had to the idea of 3D printing: You’ve got to be kidding. Printing is two-dimensional and it seem implausible to create solid objects by using … Continue reading →

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MAKING A GEARBOX WITH A 3D PRINTER.

Posted on April 22, 2012 by Philip

MAKING A GEARBOX WITH A 3D PRINTER. The Economist (April 21) has an article on the revolutionary possibilities of 3D printing. To give an idea of the importance of 3D printing, it seems that it will considered for use in … Continue reading →

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WHO GOT THE MF GLOBAL $1.2 BILLION?

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Philip

WHO GOT THE MF GLOBAL $1.2 BILLION? It has been months since MF Global filed for bankruptcy with an apparent $1.2 billion shortfall in customer funds that were supposed to kept separate from the company’s own funds. (James Giddens, the … Continue reading →

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THE STANDUP ECONOMIST ON MACROECONOMICS.

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Philip

THE STANDUP ECONOMIST ON MACROECONOMICS. Yoram Barzel, the standup economist, explained macroeconomics at a session of the American Economics Association annual meeting this year in Chicago. Here is a Youtube of it. There are a lot of in jokes for … Continue reading →

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THE STANDUP ECONOMIST ON POLITICS AND THE BUDGET.

Posted on April 8, 2012 by Philip

THE STANDUP ECONOMIST ON POLITICS AND THE BUDGET. I have posted here and here on Yoram Bauman, the Standup Economist. Here is his recent explanation of the budget deficit. The routine is more politics than economics. One of his points … Continue reading →

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