Econ Blog

your daily dose of economic commentary

1. What are Folk Economic Beliefs?

Timothy Taylor discusses folk economic beliefs, their origins, and how they shape political opinions despite often conflicting with economic theory.

Recursive self-improvement from AI models

2. Recursive self-improvement from AI models

The discussion focuses on the rapid advancements in AI through recursive self-improvement, highlighting potential increases in update frequency and implications for various industries.

Tuesday's Assorted Links

3. Tuesday's Assorted Links

The post highlights various stories that illustrate economic principles and their applications, including consumer spending and the cost of car insurance.

No, AI Doesn’t Justify Lower Interest Rates

4. No, AI Doesn’t Justify Lower Interest Rates

An argument that AI's potential productivity gains do not justify lower interest rates, countering claims made by political figures amid ongoing inflation challenges.

Will Commodity Sports Last?

5. Will Commodity Sports Last?

An argument that the emergence of Commodity Sports markets offers benefits and challenges, impacting bettors, casinos, and state regulations while raising concerns about the implications for accurate forecasting.

Claude Code 17: The Zero Profit Condition Is Coming

6. Claude Code 17: The Zero Profit Condition Is Coming

An argument that competitive markets eliminate surplus, leading to a zero profit condition, while improving overall work quality in fields like applied social science.

How much power does the Fed chair really have?

7. How much power does the Fed chair really have?

The discussion focuses on the actual influence of the Fed chair compared to their formal voting power within the Federal Reserve system.

Poverty reduction is slowing down

8. Poverty reduction is slowing down

Tyler Cowen discusses the stagnation of economic growth in Africa, attributing it to deep-rooted societal issues rather than just state failures.

On Brian Cantwell Smith and the Promise of AI

9. On Brian Cantwell Smith and the Promise of AI

The post reflects on the late philosopher's insights into AI, emphasizing the distinction between human judgment and AI's calculative capabilities, and the implications for understanding intelligence.

10. Asian Americans: Two Alternate Histories

Timothy Taylor discusses two alternate histories of Asian American immigration, focusing on the impact of discriminatory laws and the evolution of immigration patterns over time.

Kamala Harris has Liz Cheney Syndrome

11. Kamala Harris has Liz Cheney Syndrome

An argument that Kamala Harris's political identity is misunderstood, as she navigates perceptions of her leftist stance while avoiding clear ideological commitments in her campaign.

Learn what economists do

12. Learn what economists do

Joshua Gans discusses the role of economists, their focus on market failures, and the misconceptions about economics in popular media, particularly in relation to Jon Stewart's interviews.

Some Massachusetts Residents Are a Little Tired of Running on Dunkin’

13. Some Massachusetts Residents Are a Little Tired of Running on Dunkin’

Residents near a new Dunkin' facility in Haverhill are experiencing persistent odors, highlighting the negative externalities of production that affect local quality of life.

Seduced by the Louis XIV Treatment

14. Seduced by the Louis XIV Treatment

The post reflects on privilege and luxury in politics, using JD Vance's Olympic visit and the Epstein scandal to illustrate the corrupting influence of elite status.

Codechella Madrid is Back — May 25-28 at CUNEF

15. Codechella Madrid is Back — May 25-28 at CUNEF

Scott Cunningham discusses the upcoming Codechella Madrid event, highlighting its workshops on causal inference methods and the importance of affordable pricing for participants.

The Takaichi Era begins for real

16. The Takaichi Era begins for real

The post discusses Takaichi Sanae's rise to power in Japan, the LDP's electoral dominance, and the implications for democracy and governance in the country.

17. Bourgeois Propaganda In The Teaching Of Economics

Robert Vienneau critiques the teaching of economics, particularly the flawed concept of the natural rate of unemployment, highlighting its political implications.

Why is Singapore no longer “cool”?

18. Why is Singapore no longer “cool”?

Tyler Cowen explores the decline in American interest in Singapore, attributing it to political, social, and economic shifts in perception and relevance.

Bryan Caplan on immigration backlash

19. Bryan Caplan on immigration backlash

An argument that immigration backlash varies in significance, suggesting that respecting voter preferences is crucial to avoid empowering toxic anti-immigrant politicians while advocating for more immigration.

A shadowy industry is helping small businesses pay tariffs — at a high cost

20. A shadowy industry is helping small businesses pay tariffs — at a high cost

Alina Selyukh discusses the challenges small businesses face with tariffs and the risky lending options available to them.