1941. The Market Isn’t a Tool
An argument that markets operate independently of political agendas and cannot be manipulated to achieve desired outcomes, emphasizing the laws of economics over political influence.
1942. SBSQ #21: Why young men don't like Democrats
Nate Silver discusses the disconnect between young men and the Democratic Party, attributing it to perceptions of elitism and a preference for risk-taking associated with the Republican Party.
1943. June ICE Mortgage Monitor: Home Prices Continue to Cool
Home price growth is slowing, with inventory levels increasing and annual growth rates declining, indicating a cooling real estate market.
1944. Tariffs Are Costly Options
An argument that tariffs generate record revenue but lead to reduced imports and increased costs for consumers and businesses, highlighting opportunity costs and economic inefficiencies.
1945. Hating New York
Paul Krugman discusses the misconceptions about New York City, contrasting its quality of life and safety with Florida's policies and living conditions.
1946. Construction Spending Decreased 0.4% in April
Bill McBride discusses a decrease in construction spending in April 2025, highlighting trends in private and public construction investments.
1947. ISM® Manufacturing index Decreased to 48.5% in May
Bill McBride discusses the decline of the ISM manufacturing index in May, indicating ongoing contraction in the manufacturing sector and its implications for the economy.
1948. Housing June 2nd Weekly Update: Inventory up 2.1% Week-over-week, Up 32.8% Year-over-year
Active single-family housing inventory has increased significantly both week-over-week and year-over-year, indicating a larger-than-normal pickup in inventory for 2025.
1949. It's time for Abundance to get mad
The post critiques misinterpretations of the book "Abundance," highlighting its progressive themes and the growing political support for its ideas among Democratic leaders.
1950. Review of Boettke, Candela, and Truitt: The Socialist Calculation Debate
Robert Vienneau reviews Boettke, Candela, and Truitt's work on the socialist calculation debate, discussing its chapters and critiques of economic theories related to socialism.
1951. My days collecting Mexican art, part I
The author recounts discovering Mexican art through a visit to an art dealer, leading to a journey to a remote village to find a specific painter.
1952. Why Gen Z is feeling 'money dysmorphia'
Darian Woods discusses Gen Z's perception of financial insecurity despite having higher earnings and wealth compared to previous generations, a phenomenon termed 'money dysmorphia'.
1953. “Trump may actually want a recession…”
An argument that a recession could align with Trump's economic goals, exploring its implications for trade deficits and the necessary economic conditions to achieve them.
1954. My Weekly Reading for June 1, 2025
The post discusses factors contributing to California's high gas prices, the benefits of global trade, and the historical context of Reagan's trade policies.
1955. Everyone Has Their Reasons
The discussion centers on the complexities of national security in trade policies, particularly how different countries justify protectionism for agricultural sectors despite lacking comparative advantages.
1956. Taking Economic Policy Uncertainty Seriously
An argument that rising economic policy uncertainty negatively affects employment, with projections indicating significant declines based on historical data and analysis of recent trends.
1957. Nowcasted Equipment Investment Decelerates
The post discusses the decline in equipment investment linked to increased trade policy uncertainty, supported by various economic analyses and data visualizations.
1958. The Free Market Is Not a Tool for Politicos
An argument that markets should not be viewed as tools of politics, emphasizing individual freedom and the philosophical underpinnings of economic exchange without coercion.
1959. Scott Alexander replies
Tyler Cowen critiques Scott Alexander's views on aid and overhead, addressing misunderstandings and misrepresentations in their discussions on these topics.
1960. An Emergency Trade Discussion With Joey Politano
Paul Krugman discusses a court ruling on Trump's trade war with Joey Politano, highlighting the implications for tariffs and emergency powers in trade policy.