economics
a deep physics of finance
The global economic crisis that started in 2008 has summoned a deeper skepticism of the economic mainstream with its corresponding prognostications for endless growth and prosperity. Individuals are starting to question the need to play on the giant wheels of churning money that represented the retirement funds and investments of the past. While I’ve been [...]
money and life trailer
I’m excited to see the movement to reconnect monetary systems with ecological dynamics continue in gaining momentum. The upcoming Money and Life is an excellent example of how people all over the world are beginning to seriously discuss the particular method of money creation we currently use and how it affects our lives. Most importantly [...]
the scariest graph you’ll see this week
This image shows the diminishing productivity of debt in the US economy. While the US has held a large federal deficit for the last few years, it hasn’t been a problem because that debt was product. That is no longer the case.
Richard Koo on why the Great Recession isn’t going away anytime soon
Richard Koo, Chief Economist of the Nomura Research Institute, covers all the reasons why the current US and global recession is similar to Japan’s Lost Decade but much worse. In summary: we need to shift from neoclassical economic approaches to something different entirely.
playground economics
it really is so much cuter when kids actualize multilateral trade agreements to fulfill IMF policy
Chris Anderson’s Free is Gee Whiz economics
Chris Anderson’s follow up to his revolutionary The Long Tail (2006, Hyperion) has me reminded of Thomas Friedman for geeks. Stuff that people younger than 25 get naturally but that CEOs and VCs can read and say, “wow, that internets is so amazing!” Free (2009, Hyperion) sets out to cover new ground in describing the [...]
Kenneth Boulding’s Three Laws of the Dismal Science
I consider myself a highly optimistic person, so I like to temper my optimism by reading through economist Kenneth Boulding’s three laws from time to time. Boulding once said, “Anyone who thinks that steady growth can continue indefinitely, is either a madman or an economist.”
why we consume alcohol
This is definitely the most brilliant economics paper I’ve read in a while. First the abstract, It is argued that drug consumption, most commonly alcohol drinking, can be a technology to give up some control over one’s actions and words. It can be employed by trustworthy players to reveal their type. Similarly alcohol can function [...]
the high cost of free parking
Loved this short little documentary (~8 mins) on why regulations requiring free parking are a bane to society. Key takeaways from this example in Auckland: There will always be too much parking because the parking capacity is designed for 15% peak scenarios, meaning 85% of the time there is way more than enough parking. Free [...]
net energy and relocalization
Chris Martenson has been working to raise awareness of the coming economic transition for a while now through videos like his Crash Course series, which explains fundamentals of money creation, net energy and environmental depletion. This is a great ten minute summary of net energy and the crisis we are about to face. All the [...]
