I have been saying for decades that business schools, essentially, mostly just teach the brethren how to cook the books in a mostly legal way. Going through several MBA courses, nothing really conflicted with that assertion. Economics should be more … Continue reading
Tag Archives: economics
Inequality Based Incentives – A Baseball Analogy
Richard Epstein pointed out that incentive is fueled by inequality. What he didn’t say is that there are limits to that. We only need to head out to the ballpark to see them. Continue reading
Why Occupy Wall Street Matters — If It Lasts
![02heller-graphic-custom1[1]](http://tib.cjcs.com/files/2011/10/02heller-graphic-custom11-113x150.jpg)
Many questions have been raised concerning the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) protests and camps that have spread across the country. In a nutshell, these questions seems to boil down to: “So what? A lot of people are camping out and whining…therefore I ask again, so what? Why should I care? Why does the OWS movement matter?” Continue reading
Why Amazon Can’t Make A Kindle In the USA (Forbes)
Some of us have been nattering about this since the 80s. The suits and bean-counters haven’t wanted to listen. Some, just SOME, need to start listening for their (and our) survival. Grow. Innovate. Expect great. Think long-term—not just for the … Continue reading
Personal Financing the Federal Budget
With trillions of dollars of spending, revenue, and debt, it can be tough to have more than a theoretical handle on what all this Federal Budget nonsense is all about. Why don’t we scale it down a bit so we can get a better grasp on what the “fine folk” in Washington are doing. Continue reading
What The Founding Fathers Thought About Corporations
The founders understood the lessons of history, and were keen observers of human nature. As a group, we here in the now clearly aren’t. What The Founding Fathers Thought About Corporations.
Of the 1%, by the 1%, for the 1% (Vanity Fair)
Having gotten to see the US in both its ascendancy and its decline, I have to say that, overall, the ascendancy is preferable…maybe not as much to the 1%, but they still did OK. Of the 1%, by the 1%, for the … Continue reading
The Iceberg of Radical Conservatism (reddit comment)
While “Working-class Radical Conservatism” seems oxymoronic, it isn’t. At best it’s misguided, at worst is deluded self-loathing. The net effect is that people who believe they are doing good can’t accept that they are most probably, well, not. yeahiknow5 comments on … Continue reading
Are We Witnessing the Death Spiral of the Hollywood Blockbuster? (io9.com)
It doesn’t make a lot of sense to shoot your wad on a blockbuster for maybe a big payday instead of making 5-10 smaller films that are more likely to make a sustainable profit. It also allows for the diversity … Continue reading
Can Bernake Fix the Problem If He Doesn’t Understand It?
![federalreservenygold[1]](http://tib.cjcs.com/files/2010/12/federalreservenygold1-103x150.jpg)
Ben Bernake is correct that the economy is stratifying, but can’t see that education is largely irrelevant as a practical reason for the dangerous economic condition of the US. Continue reading
Sir Ken Robinson – Changing Education Paradigms
If you care about education, you really need to hear what Sir Ken Robinson has to say. Whether or not he’s correct is not for me to say, but his arguments are sensible and it’s clear that what we are currently doing isn’t working…in fact, it’s doing the opposite. Continue reading
When Life Gives You Lemons, Monetize the Lemonade
In “There is no ‘free’ lemonade: In giving drink away, girls ignore rules of economics — and sum up what’s wrong with U.S.”, writer Terry Savage takes to task three young girls (plus nanny) for setting up a lemonade stand and then giving away–not selling–their wares. I must admit, I’m torn by the two views of the world, the two mindsets, this conflict represents. Continue reading
George Whitesides: A Lab the Size of a Postage Stamp
This is one of those times when you have to applaud innovative thinking. You define the problem. You define the restraints. You try to find an efficient solution. Even better, you can actually do something helpful. George Whitesides: A lab … Continue reading
The Reality of the American Middle Class’ Decline Since 1970
A lengthy, but important, examination of the adjusted-for-inflation economic reality of what used to be a healthy American middle class. (via Daily Kos) Elizabeth Warren, the core issue, and a policy litmus test
No More Stimulus Packages, U.S. – Try Sound Money Management
I just read an article about how both the Congress and the Bush Administration (with the blessing of Fed Chair Bernake) want to issue another “stimulus package” to strengthened the economy still reeling from the credit crisis that, it was said, required $700 billion to avoid collapse. Let’s make this simple: it’s a bad idea.
First—and this is key—our political Continue reading
