Econ Blog

your daily dose of economic commentary

Fox bosses privately called U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro 'reckless maniac' and more

781. Fox bosses privately called U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro 'reckless maniac' and more

Remarks about a U.S. attorney's behavior following the 2020 election highlight concerns over her promotion of unfounded election fraud claims.

Sell it, donate it — recycle it? A beloved old minivan faces a fork in the road

782. Sell it, donate it — recycle it? A beloved old minivan faces a fork in the road

Camila Domonoske discusses the dilemma of what to do with her old minivan after two decades of use, considering selling, donating, or recycling it.

At least five interesting things: You Can't Just Do Things edition (#69)

783. At least five interesting things: You Can't Just Do Things edition (#69)

An argument that recent studies challenge the effectiveness of unconditional cash benefits in alleviating poverty and improving quality of life for recipients.

Trump asks Supreme Court to reverse tariffs ruling finding them illegal

784. Trump asks Supreme Court to reverse tariffs ruling finding them illegal

An argument that the government seeks to overturn a court ruling declaring Trump's tariffs illegal under emergency powers law.

End the Fed?

785. End the Fed?

An argument that the Federal Reserve's central planning undermines the economy by distorting interest rates and controlling prices, leading to economic disarray and loss of currency value.

Blue books are a bad idea

786. Blue books are a bad idea

An argument that traditional assessment methods, like blue book exams, may not effectively address the challenges posed by AI in education and could hinder genuine learning.

The Financial System: Some Graphs

787. The Financial System: Some Graphs

Menzie Chinn discusses graphs illustrating the current state of the financial system as part of his teaching course.

ICYMI: Journal of Economic Perspectives Summer Issue Free Online

788. ICYMI: Journal of Economic Perspectives Summer Issue Free Online

Timothy Taylor discusses the availability of the Summer 2025 issue of the Journal of Economic Perspectives online, encouraging readers to access it freely.

How Trump's latest crypto launch enriches his family

789. How Trump's latest crypto launch enriches his family

Maria Aspan discusses how Trump's cryptocurrency launch has financially benefited him and his family, emphasizing their significant profits linked to his political return.

In a brawl over right-wing TV, Newsmax sues Fox News

790. In a brawl over right-wing TV, Newsmax sues Fox News

David Folkenflik discusses Newsmax's antitrust lawsuit against Fox News, claiming it attempted to stifle the growth of its smaller competitor in the cable news market.

791. Fed's Beige Book: "Little or no change in economic activity"

Bill McBride discusses the Federal Reserve's Beige Book findings, highlighting stagnation in economic activity and mixed sentiments across various Districts regarding consumer spending and employment.

Economics Problems of Grocery Delivery

792. Economics Problems of Grocery Delivery

Kevin Corcoran discusses the economic factors influencing grocery delivery choices, including personal preferences, transaction costs, information asymmetries, and the principal-agent problem.

First day of class!

793. First day of class!

Scott Cunningham reflects on his first day of class at Harvard, discussing student engagement, the importance of causal inference, and mental health among students.

The Simple Mathematics of Chinese Innovation

794. The Simple Mathematics of Chinese Innovation

An argument that China's growth in innovation, particularly in clean energy, reflects a shift from copying to leading in research, benefiting global progress and wealth.

Yes, America Has a Housing Emergency

795. Yes, America Has a Housing Emergency

An argument that America faces a genuine housing emergency exacerbated by political decisions, highlighting the disconnect between rising home prices and inadequate housing supply.

BLS: Job Openings Decreased to 7.2 million in July

796. BLS: Job Openings Decreased to 7.2 million in July

Job openings decreased to 7.2 million in July, with unchanged hires and separations, indicating a stable labor market despite year-over-year declines in job openings and quits.

MBA: Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest Weekly Survey

797. MBA: Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest Weekly Survey

Mortgage applications fell 1.2% despite lower mortgage rates, with refinancing activity slightly increasing, while purchase activity declined after a recent rise.

Hitler's bunker is now just a parking lot. But it's a 'dark tourism' attraction anyway

798. Hitler's bunker is now just a parking lot. But it's a 'dark tourism' attraction anyway

The post explores the phenomenon of dark tourism, focusing on Hitler's bunker and the ethical implications and economic factors surrounding such attractions.

Crypto, Stablecoins, and the Rise of Tokenization

799. Crypto, Stablecoins, and the Rise of Tokenization

An argument that cryptocurrencies struggle to gain traction due to transaction inefficiencies, competition from traditional finance, and reputational issues, while stablecoins show promise for payments.

In a major antitrust ruling, a judge lets Google keep Chrome but levies other penalties

800. In a major antitrust ruling, a judge lets Google keep Chrome but levies other penalties

Jaclyn Diaz discusses a federal judge's ruling allowing Google to retain Chrome while imposing penalties on its exclusive search engine deals.