Topic: Technology

Manual Labor Will Be Revived

– December 11, 2019

In fact, one outcome of AI and automation may well be a revival of manual labor and of the traditional working class — maybe becoming more like an artisan class again.

Technology

Why Passenger Railways are Terrible and Freight Railways are Amazing

– December 11, 2019

American railways are the envy of the world. Many might shake a collective head at that statement. In the case of passenger rail that is an appropriate reaction. Since it was pieced together – a government-constructed Franken-rail system built of …

Technology

What’s Good and Bad about Automation

– December 7, 2019

What automation of any kind does is to make work more productive and hence to free up time and resources by increasing the intensity of the use of resources.

Economic Trends, Technology

Hiding Likes Can Make Instagram Better Than Ever

– November 22, 2019

Is the “popularity” contest that has become vanity platforms like Instagram contributing to the content experience? Or is it just introducing social pathologies?

Central Banking, Currency, Monetary Policy, Technology

Don’t Hand Over Your Money to Uncompetitive Banks

– November 21, 2019

Having lived abroad for most of the last seven years, I am painfully aware of the challenges that emerge from having incomes, assets, and costs in different currencies. Sometimes that yields you unexpected windfalls, like when the British pound (GBP) b …

Cryptocurrency, Technology

The Great Lesson of Vision Fund

– November 15, 2019

A central plan is not a business plan. Even a private sector central plan is doomed to fail.

Technology

Wealth Is About Much More than Physical Things

– November 5, 2019

We shouldn’t let our inability to measure increased wealth convince us that we aren’t making progress.

Regulation, Technology

Elizabeth Warren’s Anti-Consumer Plan to Break Up Big Tech

– October 29, 2019

Should Senator Warren or others choose to apply a decades-old rulebook to split up or regulate Amazon and Google, their lack of innovation risks costing consumers dearly.

Technology

The Accidental Brilliance of Silly Putty

– October 24, 2019

The success of this product should humble us into questioning what we think we know for sure, and, further, introduce doubt about the ability of intellectuals and planners perfectly to anticipate and control the world.

Cryptocurrency, Technology

Why Your Crypto Forecast of Demise or Supremacy Will Be Wrong

– October 23, 2019

Innovation does not, despite appearances, conform to narratives — fortunately for all of us.

Technology

San Fran’s Plan to Smother Innovation With Permission Slips

– October 23, 2019

The surest way to discourage innovators is to treat them and their inventions as guilty until proven innocent.

Technology

I Scoot

– October 17, 2019

You are likely to see a lot more old people, and people dressed in business attire, using scooters soon. The advantages of fast and nearly free mobility in center cities are just too great to pass up.