121. Tuesday's Assorted Links
The post highlights various stories illustrating economic principles and trends, including consumer behavior, pricing strategies, and perceptions of government.
122. A few Comments on the Seasonal Pattern for House Prices
An argument that house prices exhibit a seasonal pattern influenced by distressed sales, with recent trends showing increased seasonal swings despite fewer distressed sales.
123. What Is A Value Added Tax?
The post explains value added tax as a non-discriminatory consumption tax, contrasting it with tariffs and discussing misconceptions held by politicians.
124. Spotify's Daniel Ek announces that he'll step aside as CEO
The founder of a major music streaming service announces his transition from CEO to Executive Chairman, with two co-CEOs taking over leadership.
125. 'Like ice melting': Journalists warn press freedom is in decline across Asia
An argument that press freedom is deteriorating across Asia, exemplified by the imprisonment of citizen journalist Zhang Zhan in China.
126. Fossil Fuels and Fossilized Minds
Paul Krugman discusses the irrationality of Trump's support for coal over wind power, highlighting economic realities and the cultural motivations behind energy policy.
127. BLS: Job Openings Unchanged at 7.2 million in August
Bill McBride discusses the unchanged job openings at 7.2 million in August, along with related labor market statistics from the BLS report.
128. Case-Shiller: National House Price Index Up 1.7% year-over-year in July
Bill McBride discusses the July home price indices, highlighting a 1.7% year-over-year increase and the cooling trend in the housing market.
129. Germany thrived in the first China Shock. But the next one could prove catastrophic.
An argument that Germany's successful adaptation to past economic shocks may not suffice against future challenges posed by China’s economic rise.
130. Federal workers who took Trump's buyout get final paychecks and an uncertain future
Andrea Hsu discusses the challenges faced by federal workers who accepted Trump's buyout, including fear and uncertainty about their future.
131. EV sales surge in the U.S. ahead of Sept. 30 tax credit deadline
Camila Domonoske discusses the surge in U.S. electric vehicle sales due to the impending deadline for a $7,500 tax credit.
132. I was curious, so I asked
Tyler Cowen discusses OpenAI's entry into commerce, analyzing pricing strategies and the economic incidence of fees on consumers and retailers compared to existing platforms like Google and Amazon.
133. Tuesday: Case-Shiller House Prices, Job Openings
The post discusses mortgage rates, upcoming economic reports, and their potential impact on the housing market and labor statistics amid concerns about a government shutdown.
134. SBSQ #24: Extra special nerdy edition
Nate Silver discusses various topics, including education in statistics versus calculus, the New York mayoral race, and upcoming projects in data analysis and predictions.
135. Trump Shock on GDP vs. “Core GDP” Trajectories
An argument that GDP figures may misrepresent economic recovery, emphasizing the importance of "Core GDP" to assess sustainable growth amid evolving aggregate demand.
136. Guest Contribution: “Do Voters Pursue Their Economic Self-Interest?”
An argument that voters may prioritize cultural and ideological factors over economic self-interest when supporting political candidates, particularly in the context of Trump's policies.
137. Mortgage Lock-In
Timothy Taylor discusses mortgage lock-in, where homeowners hesitate to sell due to higher interest rates, affecting housing supply and market dynamics.
138. Final Look at Housing Markets in August and a Look Ahead to September Sales
The post analyzes August housing market trends, highlighting sales declines, inventory levels, and potential price changes for September and beyond.
139. Compass-Anywhere real estate merger could squeeze small brokerages
Scott Neuman discusses the potential impact of the Compass-Anywhere merger on small real estate brokerages.
140. So, What (Economics Concepts) Can We See?
The post explores the phenomenon of businesses clustering together, using examples from various industries to illustrate how proximity can benefit competition and customer access.