Category Archives: General Economics
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Brain Drain
Our group at work is divided into three separate sections, because of the building layout rather than representing any commercial rationale. Consequently loose social groupings form around these ‘pods’. In my pod, the absense of myself and a senior partner … Continue reading
Myths and misunderstood economics
What is the greatest misunderstanding about economics and business in general? For me, it’s the commonly perpetuated view that “for-profit” and “for the public” are necessarily divergent and opposite viewpoints. Or it put it another way, that self-interest can’t lead … Continue reading
If you love the free-market, why do you loath nature?
Don Boudreaux writes I must be explicit that I have long been skeptical of “green.” Unlike “green” folks, I am not especially inspired by nature. Yes, often nature is pretty and soothing to visit. But to get my blood pumping … Continue reading
Are women chokers?
Steven Landsburg thinks they might be, and that’s why we don’t see many top female executives. If his argument is to apply in the corporate world, it means that the decisions and actions of top executives really are marginal, in … Continue reading
Throwing money to the poor
A nice voluntary wealth redistribution story. Can’t solve the whole problem but what I’m wondering is whether tourists now will be more or less inclined to toss a coin into the Trevi. I can see few scenarios: Neutral: most people … Continue reading
Milton Keynes Boot??
Baby Boot is two days late. And we discovered last week that apparently my wife and I don’t agree on a middle name for a girl (and still have a disagreement of the ordering of the names should it be a boy). Perhaps … Continue reading
Society of Real Economists
I’m not sure if I’m in. I don’t have a problem with the first two requirements, but to say that motivations and intentions are irrelevant is a bit too far for me. This is equivalent to saying any choice from … Continue reading
Option value or mispredicted utility?
I’m often struck by how our purchasing behaviour appears inefficient. There are many instances where we appear to either mispredict the utility we would derive from a product, or are apparently attributing a high option value to owning the product. … Continue reading