1741. Basic Public-Choice Analysis of Attacking Iran
An argument that public choice theory illustrates how individual interests shape political decisions, particularly regarding military actions and the concept of national interest.
1742. Teaching College Students About Money & Cryptocurrency
Tawni Ferrarini discusses teaching college students about the functions of money, including fiat and cryptocurrency, emphasizing its role in economic stability and growth.
1743. Lessons from Chinese History
The discussion highlights how political and economic policies in ancient China influenced prosperity, emphasizing the contrast between the Song and Ming dynasties' approaches to governance and trade.
1744. Gates, Giving, and Government
Kevin Corcoran discusses Bill Gates' philanthropic efforts, the implications of his wealth distribution, and the relationship between expressive and instrumental preferences in political behavior.
1745. Pro-Trump media figures split over the U.S. role in the Israel-Iran conflict
Pro-Trump media figures express differing views on the U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict, with concerns about potential escalation into a larger war.
1746. AIA: "Architecture firm billings continued to decline in May"
Bill McBride discusses the decline in architecture firm billings in May, noting a slight stabilization in the economy and its implications for future construction activity.
1747. Trump pushes back TikTok's sell-by date for a third time
The post discusses the repeated delays in enforcing a ban on TikTok due to national security concerns and Trump's involvement in the decision-making process.
1748. Social Security benefits face big cuts in 2033, unless Congress acts
Predictions indicate Social Security benefits may significantly decrease in 2033 without Congressional intervention.
1749. What are inflation surprises telling us about tariffs?
Claudia Sahm analyzes recent inflation data and its implications for tariffs, highlighting the muted impact on apparel prices and potential future effects on consumer inflation.
1750. 'Labubu' is a plush toy that is causing a frenzy. Here's its origin story
The post discusses the popularity and market dynamics surrounding the Labubu plush toy, including its rapid sellouts and resale value increases.
1751. Housing Starts Decreased to 1.256 million Annual Rate in May
Bill McBride discusses the decline in housing starts and building permits in May, highlighting trends in single-family and multi-family construction.
1752. MBA: Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
Bill McBride discusses a decrease in mortgage applications according to the latest MBA Weekly Survey, highlighting economic factors affecting homebuyers' decisions.
1753. Industrial and Manufacturing Production, Real Retail Sales – Business Cycle Indicators
Menzie Chinn analyzes industrial production and retail sales data as indicators of the business cycle, highlighting recent trends and their implications.
1754. Fed holds interest rates steady, signals rate cuts of 0.5% later this year
Scott Horsley discusses the Federal Reserve's anticipated decision to maintain interest rates and hints at potential future rate cuts.
1755. How the electoral math flipped against Democrats
Nate Silver analyzes the changing electoral dynamics that have led to Democratic losses in recent elections, emphasizing the importance of demographic shifts and voter behavior.
1756. Allow Me to Reintroduce This Newsletter
The newsletter aims to make economics accessible and relevant, connecting real-world events to core economic concepts without jargon or complexity.
1757. LA Ports: Traffic Down Sharply in May
Bill McBride discusses the significant decline in container traffic at LA ports, highlighting its implications for trade and economic trends.
1758. Tuesday's Assorted Links
The author discusses various economic stories and their implications, including Chinese exports, World Bank growth predictions, and consumer sentiment changes.
1759. The “Big Beautiful Bill” and the Wisdom of Friedman
An argument that President Trump's budget bill contradicts conservative fiscal principles by increasing federal spending and deficits, echoing Milton Friedman's warnings about government expenditures.
1760. The Deadly Cost of Ideological Medicine
An argument that public health decisions during the pandemic prioritized ideological equity over effective vaccine distribution, leading to increased mortality risks.