What Are Carbon Offsets? Karma Neutral Explains
If you don’t understand carbon offsets, here’s an hilarious analogy: Karma Neutral offsets.
Did Government Cause the Housing Crisis?
I interviewed Russ Roberts of George Mason on this topic. Listen here. He makes a good argument that government was part of the problem, but acknowledges a role for good, old-fashioned private sector mistakes.
TARP: Banks Give Congres the Right to ^*&*^! Them
TARP is, of course, the Treasury plan to provide capital to banks. There are terms of the deal described in the press and in official documents from the Treasury. However, the deal is subject to …
Sub-prime Mortgage Crisis: Caused by Lack of Regulations?
Did lack of regulation create the subprime mortgage crisis? I’m asked this all the time. The short answer: Of course not. Nowhere close. Not a chance. Here’s the long answer. What regulations have we …
Fannie/Freddie Takeover & Bailout
Is it going to help solve our housing crisis? Some analysts think that Fan/Fred's borrowing costs will not drop, much of which will be passed on to new mortgage borrowers. Let's see if that looks …
Financial Regulation: Paulson Misses the Trial and Error Economy
This new regulatory proposal from Treasury Secretary Paulson reminds me of the Patriot Act. The department has a laundry list of changes it wants. Then there’s a crisis. At which point the department pulls out …
Bear Stearns Bailout: It’s Not Who You Think
The quick read from the press is that the purchase of Bear Stearns by JPMorgan Chase was a "bailout." Jim Hamilton over at EconBrowser doesn’t buy that story. He says, "$2 a share is no …
Incentive Systems: Markets, Medicare, and Your Business
"Markets and Medicare" is a great article in today’s Wall Street Journal by my good friend John Goodman, president of the National Center for Policy Analysis. The article has value beyond the Medicare debate, but …
Which Presidential Candidate Is Best for the Economy?
One the candidates said he would "jump start the economy." I can’t remember which one, because I switched to Pro Wrestling for a dose of reality. The image the candidates offer is that of a …
Shrinking Middle Class? Drew Carey Says No
I wouldn’t normally look to a comedian for economic commentary, but Drew Carey combines an interview with economist Michael Cox with some eye-opening interviews with . . . maybe they were fat cats or maybe …
Economic Policy: Obama and Clinton
Today’s Wall Street Journal has columns by Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama’s advisors. In a post last week I chided Mitt Romney for glib generalities. Now Clinton gives us the opposite extreme: government by laundry …
McCain and Romney on Economic Policy
Today’s Wall Street Journal has articles from the McCain and Romney campaigns outlining the candidates’ policies. (Available without subscription: McCain article, Romney article.) I don’t have a dog in this fight (well, I do, but …