Econ Blog

your daily dose of economic commentary

Trump's tariffs are in limbo. So what now? How 3 businesses are adjusting — again

801. Trump's tariffs are in limbo. So what now? How 3 businesses are adjusting — again

Scott Horsley discusses how businesses are adapting to the uncertainty surrounding Trump's tariffs after a federal appeals court ruling.

Tuesday's Assorted Links

802. Tuesday's Assorted Links

The post discusses various recent stories highlighting economic principles, including order cancellations, environmental penalties, job market challenges, electric vehicle sales, and tourism revenue.

The best quarterbacks of all time

803. The best quarterbacks of all time

Nate Silver discusses the development of a new NFL quarterback projection system and its significance in evaluating quarterback performance historically and in future seasons.

The Political Economy of Cruelty: Some Elements

804. The Political Economy of Cruelty: Some Elements

Pierre Lemieux explores the relationship between individual and governmental cruelty, analyzing how incentives and public choice contribute to cruel policies and behaviors.

Variation Of Cost-Minimizing Technique With Increased Net Output And Extensive And Intensive Rent

805. Variation Of Cost-Minimizing Technique With Increased Net Output And Extensive And Intensive Rent

An argument that explores the relationship between cost-minimizing techniques, net output, and the concepts of extensive and intensive rent in economic analysis.

Vogue promotes Chloe Malle to top editor spot

806. Vogue promotes Chloe Malle to top editor spot

The post discusses Chloe Malle's promotion to editor of American Vogue and her ongoing reporting relationship with Anna Wintour.

Construction Spending Decreased 0.1% in July

807. Construction Spending Decreased 0.1% in July

Bill McBride discusses a 0.1% decrease in construction spending in July 2025, highlighting trends in private and public construction investments.

Could China Have Gone Christian?

808. Could China Have Gone Christian?

Alex Tabarrok discusses the Taiping Rebellion's significance, its Christian roots, and its impact on China's political landscape during the 19th century.

The Bonfire of Trump’s Vanities

809. The Bonfire of Trump’s Vanities

An argument that the Trump administration's illegal tariffs and diplomatic blunders reveal its incompetence and vanity, undermining the U.S.'s global standing and economic integrity.

Freddie Mac House Price Index Declined in July; Up 1.4% Year-over-Year

810. Freddie Mac House Price Index Declined in July; Up 1.4% Year-over-Year

The post discusses the decline in the Freddie Mac House Price Index for July, noting a year-over-year increase and highlighting regional variations in home prices.

Kraft Heinz is splitting up, separating hot dogs from ketchup

811. Kraft Heinz is splitting up, separating hot dogs from ketchup

Alina Selyukh discusses Kraft Heinz's decision to split after a challenging decade following its merger orchestrated by Warren Buffett.

Starter homes are scarce, so Utah set a target to build more. Here's how it's going

812. Starter homes are scarce, so Utah set a target to build more. Here's how it's going

Jennifer Ludden discusses Utah's efforts to increase starter home construction amid concerns that young people are unable to build wealth in a high-cost housing market.

813. Guest Contribution: “Turning Medical Science Back to 1900”

Menzie Chinn discusses advancements in medical science since 1900 and critiques the nostalgic view of the past, particularly in relation to Donald Trump's policies.

Moving apartments, my first Red Sox game and preparing for first day of the semester

814. Moving apartments, my first Red Sox game and preparing for first day of the semester

Scott Cunningham shares his experiences of moving to Boston, attending his first Red Sox game, and preparing for the upcoming semester at Harvard.

Why Do Americans Work So Many Hours?

815. Why Do Americans Work So Many Hours?

The post explores the reasons behind Americans working more hours than their European counterparts, highlighting historical, economic, and social factors influencing labor practices.

How Texas Instruments Won Math Class

816. How Texas Instruments Won Math Class

The post explores Texas Instruments' dominance in the graphing calculator market, attributing it to historical advantages, market power, and strategic relationships with educational institutions.

Why I left Bloomberg

817. Why I left Bloomberg

Noah Smith explains his reasons for leaving Bloomberg, including health issues, increased bureaucracy, and a significant incident involving the Chinese Communist Party.

Housing September 1st Weekly Update: Inventory Down 0.1% Week-over-week; Down 10.3% from 2019 Levels

818. Housing September 1st Weekly Update: Inventory Down 0.1% Week-over-week; Down 10.3% from 2019 Levels

Active single-family housing inventory decreased slightly week-over-week but shows significant annual increases, with comparisons to previous years indicating a trend toward 2019 levels.

How Trump is decimating federal employee unions one step at a time

819. How Trump is decimating federal employee unions one step at a time

The post discusses the impact of Trump's actions on federal employee unions, highlighting the loss of collective bargaining rights and ongoing legal challenges.

What are the markets telling us?

820. What are the markets telling us?

Tyler Cowen discusses stock valuations, corporate taxes, and market predictions regarding inflation and political outcomes, emphasizing the implications for taxpayers and democracy.