Be sure to read this post by Brad DeLong on why we shouldn't worry about an Ebola epidemic, and why we should be tremendously displeased by our failure to stop Ebola in its tracks when we had a chance. DeLong's post is measured, reasoned, intelligent, informed, and exceedingly well-written. Credit where it is due; it adds …
More Depressing Middle East Notes
1. Those who think that Israel's enemies are serious about wanting to bring an end to the fighting have not been paying attention to current events:It was the start of a three-day truce, the best hope yet to end a 25-day-old war that has taken an enormous toll on both Palestinians and Israelis.On Friday morning, …
Neel Kashkari on the Jobs Situation in California
Neel Kashkari decided to highlight the bad jobs situation in California by putting "only $40 in my pocket (and no credit cards), a backpack, a change of clothes and a toothbrush," traveling to Fresno (by Greyhound bus), and seeing whether he could find a job. Any job. It should not have been difficult; as Kashkari …
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The Tragedy of Thomas Piketty
The latest Pikettian response to Giles's and Giugliano's assertions regarding the quality of Piketty's data and research is to accuse Giles and Giugliano of being "dishonest." (Hat tip in comments here.) I suppose this means that Piketty's is employing a classic I-am-rubber-and-you-are-glue-whatever-you-say-bounces-off-me-and-sticks-back-to-you defense, but there is little substance to the accusation; at best, Piketty can assert (without …
What the Piketty Errors Mean
Remember the Reinhart/Rogoff spreadsheet error? In the event that you do not, here is a summary. Those who follow debates between economists will recall that the spreadsheet error led to all kinds of excorations of Reinhart and Rogoff on the part of liberal economists, who claimed that Reinhart and Rogoff were responsible for austerity policies …
Facts Are Stubborn Things . . . As Thomas Piketty Is Beginning to Find Out
I have bought Thomas Piketty's book Capital in the Twenty-First Century, and while I have posted many an item that takes issue with the books claims and conclusions concerning wealth inequality, I do plan on reading Piketty; his book has made quite the intellectual and cultural impact, and although I know what his basic arguments are, …
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Maybe, Oh Maybe, We Are Getting a Better Brad DeLong
Brad DeLong informs us that "it is harder to impeach than to legislate," and that "if you can't legislate, you can't impeach over the issues you can't legislate." I for one am pleased to see that DeLong is more hesitant than he used to be when it comes to calling for impeachment; back when the blogosphere …
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