Category Archives: Economics

HORSEBACK JUDGMENTS AND THE “MISINFORMATION POLL” (COMMENT).

Posted on December 17, 2010 by Philip

HORSEBACK JUDGMENTS AND THE “MISINFORMATION POLL” (COMMENT). Dick Weisfelder and Nick have commented on my post of the 14th, and in thinking about their comments, I have come to the view that I missed an important issue. I think that … Continue reading →

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REASONABLE MEN CAN DIFFER (COMMENT).

Posted on December 14, 2010 by Philip

REASONABLE MEN CAN DIFFER (COMMENT). Dick Weisfelder commented about the Feiler Faster Thesis that political misinformation gets processed just as rapidly as valid political information. I agree with this. I want to take issue with Dick about the article (see … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Journalism, Politics | 2 Comments

MORE WEIGHTINESS FOR A CONNECTICUT YANKEE.

Posted on December 8, 2010 by Philip

MORE WEIGHTINESS FOR A CONNECTICUT. I argued here that A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR’S COURT is an important book,saying: “…economic historians in general have given increasing importance to technological change and to cultural attitudes in explaining economic growth.” Deirdre … Continue reading →

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“BOURGEOIS DIGNITY.”

Posted on December 7, 2010 by Philip

“BOURGEOIS DIGNITY.” The title of Deirdre McCloskey’s new book gives her explanation for the enormous increase in income which created the modern world in just two words: BOURGEOIS DIGNITY. Why didn’t the other societies which in many cases had “high … Continue reading →

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“WHY ECONOMICS CAN’T EXPLAIN THE MODERN WORLD.”

Posted on December 6, 2010 by Philip

“WHY ECONOMICS CAN’T EXPLAIN THE MODERN WORLD.” The subtitle of Deirdre McCloskey’s book is: “Why Economics Can’t Explain the Modern World.” What she means is that economics can’t explain why it came about that we are living in a world … Continue reading →

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16.

Posted on December 5, 2010 by Philip

16. Deirdre McCloskey has a wonderful new book on economic history. (I’ll tell you the title in a couple days. The title gives her answer to the most important question in economic history). She says: “The heart of the matter … Continue reading →

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A BETTER ANSWER TO A QUESTION OF ANNALISA’S.

Posted on December 2, 2010 by Philip

A BETTER ANSWER TO A QUESTION OF ANNALISA’S. A couple years ago I ventured an answer here to Annalisa’s question: Why should there be two candle shops right next to each other in a Richmond mall? I speculated that customers … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics | 1 Comment

WAS THE STIMULUS INSUFFICIENT?

Posted on November 29, 2010 by Philip

WAS THE STIMULUS INSUFFICIENT? Kids, you know I am a Keynesian and that I think, in retrospect, that the stimulus should have been bigger or that there should have been a second stimulus when it seemed apparent that the first … Continue reading →

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THE CAPACITY FOR BOREDOM.

Posted on November 19, 2010 by Philip

THE CAPACITY FOR BOREDOM. There are a lot of jobs which have boring aspects, but are essential to a modern economy. Kids, you know that I often say that your mother would have made a better lawyer than I was … Continue reading →

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THE VICKS VAPORUB TRAINING PROGRAM.

Posted on November 18, 2010 by Philip

THE VICKS VAPORUB TRAINING PROGRAM. Kids, I think that jobs that involve “getting your hands dirty” are good beginning jobs —as well as good jobs later on. Before his pathbreaking work on city living, William H. Whyte wrote a best … Continue reading →

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