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The Living Dead: Thoughts on Macro and Depressions

posted to Ideas on Thu 2nd Sep 10

Macro is not my field. One of the reasons it is not my field is that, so far as I can tell, it lacks a theoretical structure as solid or as well supported as price theorypopularly but misleadingly called "Micro." One result is that a course on the subject is
Assuming Your Conclusions

posted to Ideas on Wed 1st Sep 10

A recent Washington Post news story describing a speech by Christina Romer, the outgoing chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors, provides a nice example of how to implicitly assume your conclusion. The author writes:At week's end, Romer will leave the
King Tut, Statistics, and a Pet Peeve

posted to Ideas on Tue 31st Aug 10

I recently came across a National Geographic article describing the results from DNA analysis of a number of mummies, including King Tut. It was an interesting article, but there was one thing in it that annoyed me. In describing their results, the author said

My Response to Robert Frank's Reply

posted to Ideas on Tue 11th May 10

[I am quoting pieces of what Robert Frank wrote (in italics) and my responses. The full text of his response to my response to his op-ed is in the post before this.]Robert Frank writes: In my piece, for example, I claimed that high social rank has substantial
My Response to Robert Frank's ...

posted to Ideas on Thu 13th May 10

Reading Robert Franks most recent post, I have the impression that he is puzzled and frustrated by my failure to be convinced by his obviously correct arguments for his position. If so, our feelings are similar, since I remain puzzled as to why, after I have
Robert Frank's Reply to My Reply to ...

posted to Ideas on Wed 12th May 10

[Received from Robert Frank, and posted with his permission] Many thanks to David for his spirited reply. In responding to it, Ill begin with another attempt to clear up some issues I thought had been settled in our first exchange. For example, David again

David Friedman on macroeconomics

posted to Anti-Dismal on Fri 3rd Sep 10

Friedman writes at his blog IdeasMacro is not my field. One of the reasons it is not my field is that, so far as I can tell, it lacks a theoretical structure as solid or as well supported as price theorypopularly but misleadingly called "Micro." One result
David Friedman on Eggs and Quality, by David Henderson

posted to EconLog on Wed 1st Sep 10

I had missed David Friedman's post last week on eggs and quality. The whole thing is worth reading. He points out that even though the British government doesn't require vaccination of hens against salmonella, 90 percent of egg producers have their hens vaccinated.
Passing Thoughts On Obamas Religion

posted to Free Market Mojo on Mon 30th Aug 10

You’ve probably already read of the growing number of Americans who believe Obama is a Muslim. The latest numbers from Pew have it at 18%, up from 12% last year.Let’s assume we are talking about Obama’s actual beliefs, not the whole “well