Category Archives: key issues

359. UN report on need for visions.

This is quite excellent. Very GardenWorld. Other worlds are possible Other Worlds are Possible – the new economics foundation This report argues that our chances of triumphing over climate change will rise dramatically if we change the context within which we ‘fght its fre’. More than that, it suggests that we are already surrounded by

319. On banks. Very good summary of problem with Obama now.

http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/shooting-banks Shooting Banks Obama’s impotent assault on Wall Street. Peter Boone, Simon Johnson February 24, 2010 | 12:00 am On January 21, in an abrupt change of policy, President Obama announced his intention to take on the big bankers who have brought us so much trouble. “If these folks want a fight, it’s a fight

289. 3.5 percent growth?

From Krugman in the NYT   Growth and jobs Just a quick note on the GDP report. Obviously, 3.5 percent growth is a lot better than shrinkage. But it’s not enough — not remotely enough — to make any real headway against the unemployment problem. Here’s the scatterplot of annual growth versus annual changes in

279. Will California become Americas first failed state? | World news | The Observer

The trend is not good. This may well be what happens. Then? Will California become Americas first failed state?Los Angeles, 2009: California may be the eighth largest economy in the world, but its state government is issuing IOUs, unemployment is at its highest in 70 years, and teachers are on hunger strike. So what has

274. The White House – Press Office – Remarks by the President at UN Secretary General Ban Ki moons Climate Change Summit

All quite vague, all hopign to hold on to existing political and commercail structures.  Her we begin to see the tretch marks. What we are seeking, after all, is not simply an agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions.  We seek an agreement that will allow all nations to grow and raise living standards without endangering

272. The costs technology: russian roulette.

This paper explores what might be called a “Russian roulette” theory of economic growth. Suppose the overwhelming majority of new ideas are beneficial and lead to growth in consumption. However, there is a tiny chance that a new idea will be particularly dangerous and cause massive loss of life. Do discovery and economic growth continue

271. Economics – Wikipedia

Here is the problem. Economics is the social science that studies the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek οἰκονομία oikonomia, “management of a household, administration” from οἶκος oikos, “house” + νόμος nomos, “custom” or “law”, hence “rules of the household”.[1] Current economic models developed out

263. Inequality, the debate.

Good review of inequality. Many of the same people who argue that inequality is caused by the market rewarding highly productive people for their efforts — that its a good thing because it encourages productive effort — also deny that inequality is increasing. If inequality is predominately the result of rewarding people for hard work

261. A Nobelist Joins Those Pursuing Well-Being Over Growth – Dot Earth Blog – NYTimes.com

good. A Nobelist Joins Those Pursuing Well-Being Over GrowthBy ANDREW C. REVKINA Nobel laureate,  Joseph E. Stiglitz, has joined the circle of economists convinced that the world needs  new ways of measuring progress as  human numbers and appetites butt up against the planet’s limits and old economic models have  hit some speed bumps. I would

258. The Supreme Court and Corporate Money

This is very important and negative, if the court upholds corporate personhood (can they be drafted, can they vote?) broadly. This imminent, much-feared Court decision on campaign finance is likely to make the issue of corporate money versus real democracy as clear as it’s ever been. Likewise the consequences via Harvey Wasserman: The Supreme Court