Assorted Links (6/16/2010)

Here’s a list of articles that I have been reading lately:

Douglas E. Schoen and Patrick H. Caddell: The United States of Throw the Bums Out – WSJ.com

online.wsj.com

“In the Wall Street Journal, Douglas Schoen and Patrick Caddell write that the best thing Republicans have going for them among voters is that they’re not Democrats.”

Daniel Henninger: The President’s Animosities – WSJ.com

online.wsj.com

“In The Wall Street Journal, Wonder Land columnist Daniel Henninger says that BP isn’t the only business President Obama has been beating up on.”

Map: Where Americans Are Moving – Forbes.com

www.forbes.com

“More than 10 million Americans moved from one county to another during 2008. The map below visualizes those moves. Click on any county to see comings and goings: black lines indicate net inward movement, red lines net outward movement.”

‘I Will Not Settle for Inaction’ – WSJ.com

online.wsj.com

“Is Obama really doing everything in his power to fight the spill?”

How Much Will BP Really Pay? – Room for Debate Blog – NYTimes.com

nytimes.com

“How does the public ensure that it doesn’t end up paying for costs of the spill 20 or 30 years out?


European flooding – The Big Picture – Boston.com


boston.com


“Over the past month, heavy rainfall from different storms across parts of Europe has caused massive amounts of flooding – some water moving slowly across river plains and farmland, some moving swiftly through cities and villages.”


Oil Talk – WSJ.com


online.wsj.com


“The Wall Street Journal writes that President Obama is trying to link the Gulf gusher to his moribund green agenda.”


Oil spill crisis as opportunity|KeithHennessey.com


KeithHennessey.com


“The President’s Oval Office address last night suggests an implementation of this principle, as he tries to reconfigure the climate change / cap-and-trade debate into a new War on Fossil Fuels.”


The Economics of Libertarianism, Revealed – Economix Blog – NYTimes.com


nytimes.com


“When government action is required, libertarian solutions can be hard to discern clearly, an economist writes.”


Migration: Texas, here we come | The Economist


Economist.com


“IN THE ten years I’ve lived in New York I forgot how to drive. Lately I’ve been spending lots of time in Austin, Texas. Enough so that I’ve had to start driving again. When you go many years without driving, it becomes terrifying.”


Burying the Incumbent Protection Racket — The American, A Magazine of Ideas


american.com


“Although only 14 percent of the public approves of Congress, in an ordinary year 95 percent of all incumbents are re-elected. How is this possible?”


Richard A. Epstein: BP Doesn’t Deserve a Liability Cap – WSJ.com


online.wsj.com


“Richard Epstein writes in The Wall Street Journal that solid insurance underwriting is likely to do a better job in pricing risk than any program of direct government oversight.”


Creating the Next Crisis – Project Syndicate


project-syndicate.org


“With the Obama administration rejecting what it once supported – the breakup of megabanks that are too big to fail – we are setting ourselves up for another boom based on excessive and reckless risk-taking at the heart of the world’s financial system. This can end only one way: badly.”


Why Relaxing Is Hard Work – WSJ.com


online.wsj.com


“Some people are so addicted to the adrenaline rush of stress that they gravitate to high-pressure jobs, take on too much or leave projects to the last minute.Put them on a beach for a week, and it’s no wonder they can’t relax.”


Op-Ed Columnist – The Larger Struggle – NYTimes.com


nytimes.com


“A rivalry is growing between democratic capitalist and state capitalist systems.”

Assorted Links (6/14/2010)

Here’s a list of articles that I have been reading lately:

Stephen A. Blumenthal: It’s Time to Nationalize Fannie and Freddie – WSJ.com

online.wsj.com

“In The Wall Street Journal, Stephen A. Blumenthal writes that any solution that allows private companies to have a special relationship to government is destined to fail.”

Think Smarter About Risk – WSJ.com

online.wsj.com

“Moshe A. Milevsky says in The Wall Street Journal that when gauging risk, too many investors don’t consider the most important asset: their human capital.”

Opening weekend – 2010 World Cup – The Big Picture – Boston.com

boston.com

“The 2010 FIFA World Cup opened last Friday in South Africa, after years of preparation, with an Opening Ceremony at Soccer City Stadium – the first matches taking place over the weekend.”

Foreign Tax Bill Likely, But ‘A Bad Idea,’ Validus CEO Says

highlinedata.com

“NEW YORK-Proposed legislation denying tax deductions for reinsurance premiums paid to offshore affiliates will likely pass through Congress, a Bermuda executive predicted here yesterday, but he criticized the measure as a restriction of free trade.”

The Dark Side of Stimulus

“‘Regulating Wall Street’ Co-Editor and NYU economics professor Thomas Cooley breaks down the pros and cons of stimulus spending…”

Gerald O’Driscoll: The Gulf Spill, the Financial Crisis and the Failure of Big Government – WSJ.com

online.wsj.com

“In The Wall Street Journal, Gerald P. O’Driscoll notes that Republicans and Democrats fail to see the limits of centralized regulation in a modern market economy.”

Dynamic Dr. Krugman|KeithHennessey.com

KeithHennessey.com

“In his column today Dr. Paul Krugman argues that the deficit impact of a large ($1 trillion) stimulus would be mitigated by the effects of higher GDP growth.”

Women Prefer Men Holding State Bonds, Japan Ad Says (Update1) – Bloomberg.co.jp

Bloomberg.co.jp

“June 9 (Bloomberg) — Japanese women are seeking men who invest in government bonds, according to an advertisement being run by the Ministry of Finance.”

The Road to Price Controls — The American, A Magazine of Ideas

www.american.com

“Conventional wisdom is that U.S. pharmaceutical companies made out well under the Obama health plan by bargaining with the White House. That wisdom is wrong.”

Just How Risky Are Nuclear Industry, NASA Missions? – The Numbers Guy – WSJ

online.wsj.com

“Scientists in some risky pursuits attempt to quantify risks, which helps identify trouble spots. That might be in the future of the deep-sea oil-drilling business.”

Scenes from the Gulf of Mexico – The Big Picture – Boston.com

boston.com

“Based on recently revised estimates, BP’s ruptured oil well at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico continues to leak 25,000 to 30,000 barrels of oil a day. The new figures suggest that an amount of oil equivalent to the Exxon Valdez disaster could still be flowing into the Gulf of Mexico every 8 to 10 days.”

Lawrence M. Krauss: Science and the Gulf Spill – WSJ.com

online.wsj.com

“In The Wall Street Journal, scientist Lawrence M. Krauss says that TV has fueled unrealistic expectations of a quick fix to the oil spill.”

Fouad Ajami: Iran and the ‘Freedom Recession’ – WSJ.com

online.wsj.com

“Fouad Ajami writes in The Wall Street Journal about the anniversary of the Iranian crackdown on pro-democracy protests that Facebook had no answer to the pro-regime vigilantes who ruled the streets. And the U.S. president, who might have helped, stood aside.”

Andy Kessler: The iPhone, Net Neutrality and the FCC – WSJ.com

online.wsj.com

“Andy Kessler writes in The Wall Street Journal that the FCC should make it easier for more companies to enter wireless data and cable broadband markets.”

Peggy Noonan: ‘We Are Totally Unprepared’ – WSJ.com

online.wsj.com

“Peggy Noonan writes in The Wall Street Journal that nine years after 9/11, there is a chilling complacency about WMD attacks.”

Charles Krauthammer – The myth of Iran’s ‘isolation’

washingtonpost.com

“Obama’s strategy against Tehran hasn’t worked.”

Don’t Believe the Double-Dippers

online.wsj.com

“Alan Reynolds writes in The Wall Street Journal that while liberals issue dire warnings to argue for more stimulus spending, Republicans embrace gloom as evidence stimulus hasn’t worked. Truth is the economy isn’t that bad.”

Obama Meets Toto

online.wsj.com

“In The Wall Street Journal, Dan Henninger writes that with the Gulf oil spill, faith in the omnipotence of government has put us in the land of Oz.”

Europe’s Determination to Decline

www.project-syndicate.org

“At a time when their economies are sputtering, European leaders have embraced the bizarre idea of further reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions. There is a strong correlation between carbon emissions and GDP growth, so, in the absence of alternatives to fossil fuels, Europeans are, in effect, calling for an even deeper recession.”

Assorted Links (6/9/2010)

Here’s a list of articles that I have been reading lately:

Rory Sutherland: Sweat the small stuff | Video on TED.com
www.ted.com
“It may seem that big problems require big solutions, but ad man Rory Sutherland says many flashy, expensive fixes are just obscuring better, simpler answers. To illustrate, he uses behavioral economics and hilarious examples.”

If Morgan Stanley Caused The Oil Spill – Forbes.com
www.forbes.com
“In time we’ll learn how to prevent another Deepwater Horizon oil spill. What about another financial crisis?”

Preparing for the World Cup – The Big Picture – Boston.com
boston.com
“Next Friday, June 11th, South Africa will step onto the world stage as host nation of the 2010 FIFA World Cup as the international soccer tournament begins – welcoming 32 teams from around the world.”

Are Government Workers Underpaid? No — The American, A Magazine of Ideas
american.com
“Once all promised benefits are included, government employees at all levels—local, state, and federal—receive significantly greater total compensation than private-sector workers.”

Charles E.F. Millard: The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Is Billions in Deficit – WSJ.com
online.wsj.com
“In The Wall Street Journal, Charles E.F. Millard says the PBGC, which guarantees private pensions, is deeply underfunded and may not be able to meet its obligations to retirees.”

Dorothy Rabinowitz: The Alien in the White House – WSJ.com
online.wsj.com
“Dorothy Rabinowitz writes in The Wall Street Journal that the distance between the president and the people is beginning to be revealed.”

Scott Gottlieb: Two Steps Forward in the War Against Cancer – WSJ.com
online.wsj.com
“Scott Gottlieb writes in The Wall Street Journal that the time from lab to market for new drugs keeps getting shorter, but bad government policies threaten to reverse this trend.”

Feel the Rage – WSJ.com
online.wsj.com
“The Wall Street Journal writes that liberals who are assaulting President Obama and government over the Gulf oil spill have discovered conservatives’ critique of the regulatory state.”

A Self-Appointed Teacher Runs a One-Man ‘Academy’ on YouTube – Technology – The Chronicle of Higher Education
chronicle.com
“Salman Khan, a former financial analyst, has created 1,400 educational videos and posted them to YouTube. “My single biggest goal is to try to deliver things the way I wish they were delivered to me,” he says.”

The new Democratic claim about job creation
keithhennessey.com
“A new claim about job creation appears to be bubbling up through the Democratic ranks. Here is the clearest statement of that claim, from Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) on Stuart Varney’s show:”

Responding to the President’s Carnegie Mellon economic speech|KeithHennessey.com
keithhennessey.com
“Yesterday I tried to neutrally summarize the President’s 5,000+ words economic speech delivered last week at Carnegie Mellon University. Today I’ll give my views on the substance.”

Okrent on Prohibition and His Book, Last Call
www.econtalk.org
“Daniel Okent, author of Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition, talks about the book with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. They discuss how the 18th Amendment banning the manufacture, sale, and transport of intoxicating beverages came to pass in 1920, what life was like while it was in force, and how the Amendment cam…e to be repealed in 1934. Okrent discusses how Prohibition became entangled with the suffrage movement, the establishment of the income tax, and anti-immigration sentiment. They also discuss the political economy of prohibition, enforcement, and repeal–the quintessential example of bootleggers and baptists.”

Assorted Links (6/8/2010)

Here’s a list of articles that I have been reading lately:

Bob Doll: The Bullish Case for U.S. Equities – WSJ.com

Source: online.wsj.com

“In the Wall Street Journal Bob Doll of BlackRock writes that even though America faces long-term problems, our economy is making extraordinary improvements, especially compared to Europe.”

Daniel Klein: Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? – WSJ.com

Source: online.wsj.com

“In The Wall Street Journal, Daniel B. Klein writes that self-identified liberals and Democrats do badly on questions of basic economics.”

Cliff Notes: The President’s Carnegie Mellon economic speech|KeithHennessey.com

Source: keithhennessey.com

“Last Wednesday the President spoke about the economy at Carnegie Mellon University. Administration officials billed this as a major economic address, the follow-up to his speech last April at Georgetown. …”

Remembering D-Day, 66 years ago – The Big Picture – Boston.com

Source: www.boston.com

“Yesterday was June 6th, the 66th anniversary of the successful 1944 Allied invasion of France. Several operations were combined to carry out the largest amphibious invasion in history – over 160,000 troops landed on June 6th, assisted by over 5,000 ships, aerial bombardment, gliders and paratroopers…”

Eliot Cohen: With Friends Like the United States . . . – WSJ.com

Source: online.wsj.com

“Eliot A. Cohen writes in The Wall Street Journal that President Obama’s foreign policy approach has emboldened America’s adversaries and unnerved its allies.”

Even Technologists Can’t Predict the Future – WSJ.com

Source: online.wsj.com

“Information Age columnist Gordon Crovitz reports on The Wall Street Journal’s annual All Things Digital Conference held in California last week.”

Richard Florida: Homeownership Is Overrated – WSJ.com

Source: online.wsj.com

“In The Wall Street Journal, Richard Florida says that government attempts to ratchet up the percentage of Americans owning homes is a mistake, and trap people who need to be able to move where the opportunities are. Today’s economy requires a more mobile workforce, he says.”

Fred Barnes: Does Obama Want the Congressional Democrats to Lose the Midterm Elections – WSJ.com

Source: online.wsj.com

“In The Wall Street Journal, Fred Barnes says that a presidential pivot to the center (and re-election) would be easier without House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.”

The St. Petersburg Paradox: a flimsy critique of expectation theory by people who don’t know math or economics

Source: mindyourdecisions.com

“As someone who uses math and economics for a living, I come across many opposing arguments. There are always people who wish to prove to me economics is fundamentally flawed.”

The Federal Takeover of Journalism

Source: jeffreymiron.com

“Yes, I know that sounds hyperbolic, but consider the title of a new discussion draft from the staff of the Federal Trade Commission…”

Does the Internet Make You Smarter? – WSJ.com

Source: online.wsj.com

“Amid the silly videos and spam are the roots of a new reading and writing culture, says Clay Shirky.”

Does the Internet Make You Dumber? – WSJ.com

Source: online.wsj.com

“A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that the Internet, with its constant distractions and interruptions, is turning us into scattered and superficial thinkers, says Nicholas Carr.”