Topic: Economic Education

Weighing Whether the Standard Scale Makes Sense

– September 27, 2023

“Largely thoughtless adoption of a grading scale inherited from primary school can increase the emphasis on rote instead of reason at the university level.” ~Gary M. Galles

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Peter Turchin’s ‘End Times,’ A Review

– September 10, 2023

“Turchin’s model does appear to shed some light on the ‘elite-vs-deplorable’ dynamic playing out in our national drama.” ~ Thaddeus Meadows and Mike Ryall

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Are Humans Inherently Selfish?

– September 8, 2023

“A thicker view of rationality accepts the view that people live in a world with social norms that both condition and constrain our actions.” ~ Anthony Gill

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Using People the Right Way 

– September 7, 2023

“You offer me means to advance my ultimate ends, not my ultimate ends themselves. I offer you resources in exchange, but those are also means to your ultimate ends, not your ultimate ends themselves.” ~ Gary Galles

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Contra Abundance

– September 3, 2023

“Not all differences are due to injustice. We can improve our own situation, both individually and collectively, by acting prudently, wisely, and productively.” ~ Per Bylund

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Beware Especially of Claims Made By Politicians

– September 1, 2023

“The public’s inability to ‘see’ with the naked eye any but the most obvious consequences of government interventions ensures that politicians confront only very weak incentives to be truthful and concrete about the likely full consequences of their interventions.” ~ Donald J. Boudreaux

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My Big Cryptocurrency Pyramid Scheme

– August 26, 2023

“I like to explore innovations that promise not violent overthrow but rather ways to undermine or circumvent unjust authorities or corrupt incumbents.” ~ Max Borders

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Further Thoughts on Industrial Policy

– August 23, 2023

“The possibility is real that the subsidized mousetrap improvers displace unsubsidized mousetrap improvers who, absent the subsidies, would have given the world an even better mousetrap or an equally improved mousetrap produced at lower cost.” ~ Donald J. Boudreaux

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Protecting Competition or Preventing It?

– August 23, 2023

“If you can’t reduce competition in the sense of harming rivals, you cannot engage in rivalry seeking to benefit consumers. ” ~ Gary Galles

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Why is Lionel Messi Wasting His Time at Publix?

– August 17, 2023

“Maybe Messi isn’t wasting his time shopping at Publix. After all, they’re writing some of the checks to cover his eight-figure annual salary, and maybe conspicuously shopping there is part of the bargain.” ~ Art Carden

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Maximizers and Monopolies, A Benefit to Society

– August 13, 2023

“Consumers do not care that there is only one primary zipper manufacturer, they only care that their zippers work. Thus, if market needs are being met, competition isn’t a concern.” ~ Kimberlee Josephson

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In Defense of Tipping, Part III: Market-Enhancing Norms

– August 12, 2023

“Individuals who voluntarily leave a gratuity at the end of a meal indicate that they appreciated the service and are happy to contribute more to the server than is legally required.” ~ Anthony Gill

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