Category Archives: Politics

GREECE’S ADVANTAGE IN THE CHICKEN GAME.

GREECE’S ADVANTAGE IN THE CHICKEN GAME. One advantage that Greece has in the negotiations with respect to a possible Greek default is that Greece’s moves will not be required until after the deadline. The deadline for the funding from other … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, Politics | 2 Comments

WINNING WITH FEWER VOTES—IOWA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE.

WINNING WITH FEWER VOTES—IOWA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE. It is bizarre that two small states have such a large role in choosing the major party candidates for President. Kids, the way that journalists have determined which candidates have “won” each in … Continue reading

Posted in History, Politics | Leave a comment

WHY SUNK COSTS SHOULD BE IGNORED.

WHY SUNK COSTS SHOULD BE IGNORED. Kids, you have probably encountered the the economic argument that it is a fallacy to take sunk costs into consideration in making a decision (“sunk costs” are defined in this wikipedia article as “retrospective … Continue reading

Posted in Baseball, Economics, Politics, Sports | 2 Comments

PLAYING WITH MATCHES NEAR A GASOLINE TANK.

PLAYING WITH MATCHES NEAR A GASOLINE TANK. Here is a Guardian summary of events on Friday December 16 relating to the Eurozone crisis. If you scroll through you will see that it was a hectic day. At 5:50 p.m. Fitch … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, History, Politics | 1 Comment

THE EUROZONE—A CHICKEN GAME WHERE EVERY MEMBER CAN BLOW IT UP?

THE EUROZONE—A CHICKEN GAME WHERE EVERY MEMBER CAN BLOW IT UP? I began a discussion of chicken games in connection with the debt ceiling negotiations (here is some of the discussion). Radek Sikorski, the Foreign Minister of Poland, gave a … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, History, Politics | 1 Comment

PRICING FAT TAIL RISK.

PRICING FAT TAIL RISK. Kids, you will note that the “fat tail risks” that are currently being recognized by the crude oil markets—possible trouble in Russia or the Middle East, collapse of the eurozone— are also fat tail risks in … Continue reading

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MY FIRST EXERCISE OF POWER.

MY FIRST EXERCISE OF POWER. I was reminiscing the other day, and Annalisa urged me to post the story. I thought about what the meaning of the story was, and it occurred to me that it was the first time … Continue reading

Posted in Politics | 3 Comments

ARE THE IOWA CAUCUSES UNREPRESENTATIVE?

ARE THE IOWA CAUCUSES UNREPRESENTATIVE? Since the Iowa caucuses assumed enormous importance in 1972, they have been presented as examples of grassroots democracy and therefore worthy of their enormous importance. This interview with a “shrewdly cynical professional” presents a view … Continue reading

Posted in Journalism, Politics | Leave a comment

THE NOMINATION PROCESS—THE PROGRESS SO FAR.

THE NOMINATION PROCESS—THE PROGRESS SO FAR. The 2012 nomination process got off to a bad start from my point of view when Governor Pawlenty withdrew in the middle of 2011 after having suffered a defeat in a straw poll in … Continue reading

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IS THERE HOPE FOR A BETTER NOMINATION PROCESS?

IS THERE HOPE FOR A BETTER NOMINATION PROCESS? Almost five years ago, I began a series of posts here, all of which expressed a hope for a better presidential nomination process. I had a quote from Michael Barone which summarized … Continue reading

Posted in History, Politics | 2 Comments