Category Archives: economics

More Thoughts on UBI

Posted on 2020-05-31 by alan

The main problem with Universal Basic Income proposals is that there are so many of them, and they are so completely different from one another, that the term is no longer meaningful. But the current need for governments to distribute … Continue reading →

Posted in economics, uncategorized | Tagged Capital, Inheritance, taxes, UBI | Leave a comment

What’s Wrong with Yang’s UBI Proposal?

Posted on 2019-10-23 by alan

US Democrat presidential nomination candidate Andrew Yang includes a kind of universal basic income in his platform; and he identifies it as a “dividend” which I prefer because it clarifies that it is not welfare but a deserved share of … Continue reading →

Posted in economics, politics, uncategorized, usa | Tagged Andrew Yang, UBI | 2 Comments

Capital

Posted on 2016-08-30 by alan

Capitalism is generally thought of as a phenomenon of the last two or three centuries, but I think there is a sense in which it is NOT a new, or even distinctly human, phenomenon. The conventional understanding of capitalism is … Continue reading →

Posted in economics | Tagged Capital, capitalism, Inheritance, taxes, UBI | 1 Comment

When 99% is really 0.01%

Posted on 2011-10-19 by alan

The Tyee ( Wall Street Occupiers, Don’t Forget Ballot Box) says it rather too gently. The protesters and their direct supporters are more like a 0.01% than 99%, and the other 99% of the real 99% were too stupid to do … Continue reading →

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Collapse of Trade as a Phase Transition

Posted on 2011-02-03 by alan

Prompted by our visiting friend Geoff (the ‘lucky Geologist’ and author of ‘Green Figs’ and other essays), I have recently finished reading ‘The Fall of Rome – and the End of Civilization’ by Bryan Ward-Perkins (OUP2005), wherein the author responds … Continue reading →

Posted in economics, history | Tagged RomanEmpire | Leave a comment

LRB · Joseph Stiglitz · The Non-Existent Hand

Posted on 2010-04-18 by alan

LRB · Joseph Stiglitz · The Non-Existent Hand. One comment in particular rang a bell for me. Often the use of a mathematical model is considered as giving predictions greater credibility when all it really does is ensure that they … Continue reading →

Posted in economics, mathematics, politics | Tagged keynes, stiglitz | Leave a comment

Economics: What went wrong with economics | The Economist

Posted on 2009-07-17 by alan

Economics: What went wrong with economics | The Economist

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Mythical Myths No 7

Posted on 2008-09-18 by alan

In “The Myth of the Tragedy of the Commons”, Ian Angus claims that the phenomenon commonly called a “tragedy of the commons” is a myth. But he is wrong. Anyone who is aware of the fate of the Atlantic cod … Continue reading →

Posted in economics, sustainability | Leave a comment

Hedonic Man

Posted on 2008-06-30 by alan

Hedonic Man is the title of a review by Alan Wolfe of two books on the “new economics”. Like Wolfe (and probably countless others) I am sure that the science of economics is sorely lacking, but also like him I … Continue reading →

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CO2 Reduction Scenarios (UK example)

Posted on 2008-06-25 by alan

Heavyweight physics prof weighs into climate/energy scrap [printer-friendly] | The Register

Posted in climate, economics, sustainability, world | Leave a comment

Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Posted on 2008-06-05 by alan

I was led to this Sunday Times profile of Taleb via Arts&Letters Daily. Taleb’s view that market collapses are more sudden and extreme (though less frequent) than rises seems believable to me but is presumably easily checked from the record, … Continue reading →

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