The End Of The Harris Candidacy I should probably not waste time on this, but I was a fan of Kamala Harris. Her ending her candidacy while still in fifth place in the polls and if in a long slide, has me disappointed. As it is, given her declining polls, lack of money, and reportedly […] [Read More...]
Forecasting the 2020 election: the economic baseline (or, don’t count on a recession)
Forecasting the 2020 election: the economic baseline (or, don’t count on a recession) Four years ago, I decided to use my set of “long leading indicators” to forecast the 2016 election. The indicators were very weakly positive, and pointed to a narrow popular vote win for the incumbent party one year out. This prompted Nate […] [Read More...]
A Fascinating Eavesdrop
FEEDI stumbled upon this totally by chance, and it’s mesmerizing. These men didn’t know their conversation was being recorded (it isn’t clear who was doing the bugging), but it is riveting, particularly considering how high the stakes were. The mutual respect is also inspirational. [Read More...]
SECURE Act Up for Consideration in the Senate – A Rehash
I covered the House SECURE Act and the Senate RESA version last July. The House RESA Act is up for consideration in the Senate now. It does not look like it is going to make it due to the impeachment process going on and a potential trial in the Senate. There is also a small […] [Read More...]
Italy to make climate change study compulsory in schools
Reuters: Italy will become the first nation to require all schoolchildren to study climate change and sustainable development. Education Minister Lorenzo Fioramonti of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement: “The entire ministry is being changed to make sustainability and climate the center of the education model. All state schools would dedicate 33 hours per year or almost […] [Read More...]
Big data helps monopolies, not you
by David Zetland (originally published at One handed economist) Big data helps monopolies, not you Economists say competition in markets rages from “perfect” (no company can charge a price over cost without losing 100% of its customers to another company) to “monopoly” (one company sets prices to maximize profits). Two caveats are important. First, the monopolist […] [Read More...]
Is Venezuela Stabilizing?
Is Venezuela Stabilizing? Maybe. It looks the inflation rate in Venezuela maxed out in January at an annuualized rate of 192,000 % , whiich fell by September to 4,600% rate, still in hyperinflationary teritoryy, but clearly coming down substantially. I am not a fan of this regime and never was, unlike some prominent economists saying […] [Read More...]