Econ Blog

your daily dose of economic commentary

Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace

2461. Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace

An argument that students should challenge economic teachings in college to foster critical thinking and address widespread misconceptions about concepts like price gouging and trade.

Poor Elon Musk!

2462. Poor Elon Musk!

Pierre Lemieux discusses Elon Musk's political miscalculations and his relationship with Trump, highlighting Musk's lack of understanding of political dynamics and liberty.

Inventing the Renaissance: Ada Palmer

2463. Inventing the Renaissance: Ada Palmer

The discussion explores the complexities of defining the Renaissance as a historical era, emphasizing its ongoing reinterpretation and significance in cultural history.

It's OK not to be fat

2464. It's OK not to be fat

Noah Smith shares his personal weight loss journey and discusses societal perceptions of weight loss and personal struggles, emphasizing the importance of individual effort and lifestyle changes.

Leaving Scotland (eventually)

2465. Leaving Scotland (eventually)

Scott Cunningham shares his travel experiences in Scotland, including a missed flight, reflections on anger, and highlights from his week in Glasgow.

Avila, Spain

2466. Avila, Spain

The post highlights Avila's historical significance, cultural reenactments, and its underrated status as a travel destination, drawing parallels with a Mexican village's traditions.

Michaillat-Saez Recession Indicator

2467. Michaillat-Saez Recession Indicator

Menzie Chinn discusses the recession indicator's recent performance and its implications for current economic conditions.

“First thing we do, let’s kill all the beancounters” Part 3

2468. “First thing we do, let’s kill all the beancounters” Part 3

The post discusses criticisms of the Congressional Budget Office from Republicans regarding its economic forecasts and the implications for fiscal policy debates.

June 6th COVID Update: Weekly COVID Deaths at New Pandemic Low

2469. June 6th COVID Update: Weekly COVID Deaths at New Pandemic Low

The post discusses the recent decline in weekly COVID-19 deaths, noting metrics and goals related to pandemic reporting and wastewater data as indicators.

When Chinese manufacturing met Small Town, USA

2470. When Chinese manufacturing met Small Town, USA

The post explores the implications of a multinational battery factory's establishment in a small American town, highlighting the intersection of local democracy and global economic forces.

May Employment Release: NFP above Consensus, Mfg below

2471. May Employment Release: NFP above Consensus, Mfg below

The post analyzes employment data, highlighting stronger nonfarm payroll growth but weaker manufacturing employment, while discussing broader economic indicators and potential impacts of tariffs.

AAR: Rail "Intermodal Slips, But Carloads Hold Steady Amid Continued Uncertainty"

2472. AAR: Rail "Intermodal Slips, But Carloads Hold Steady Amid Continued Uncertainty"

Bill McBride discusses the mixed performance of rail freight volumes, highlighting growth in carloads and stagnation in intermodal traffic amid economic uncertainty.

Immortality: The Meaning of Buchanan’s Life

2473. Immortality: The Meaning of Buchanan’s Life

Pierre Lemieux reflects on James Buchanan's views on life, death, and the enduring spirit of classical liberalism as expressed in his work and interviews.

Some Economics of Africa’s Struggle

2474. Some Economics of Africa’s Struggle

An argument that Africa has made progress in various development areas but still faces significant economic and political challenges, hindering its growth potential.

On Models

2475. On Models

The discussion focuses on the importance of selecting appropriate models for understanding complex realities, highlighting failures in economic and military applications due to poor model choices.

1st Look at Local Housing Markets in May

2476. 1st Look at Local Housing Markets in May

The post analyzes local housing market data for May, highlighting trends in sales, inventory, and mortgage rates compared to previous years.

Why U.S. workers keep getting more productive

2477. Why U.S. workers keep getting more productive

Wailin Wong discusses rising U.S. labor productivity and explores various theories behind this trend with insights from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago president.

Wake Up and Smell the Corruption

2478. Wake Up and Smell the Corruption

An argument that America is mired in corruption, exemplified by the behaviors of Trump and Musk, undermining democratic principles and the rule of law.

Comments on May Employment Report

2479. Comments on May Employment Report

The May employment report showed job growth above expectations, but previous months' payrolls were revised down, indicating ongoing labor market challenges despite solid overall performance.

Hiring slowed in May, as employers added 139,000 jobs

2480. Hiring slowed in May, as employers added 139,000 jobs

Scott Horsley discusses the addition of 139,000 jobs in May and the steady unemployment rate amidst a shrinking workforce.