13 January 2011

Economics and Partying

They are not mutually exclusive: http://gaw.kr/i2ZaqM.

More, this time on real estate, economics and partying: http://gaw.kr/eTTGwQ.

Who knew economists lead such full and interesting lives?

I got all this from Jodi Beggs's blog: http://bit.ly/h9g4OW. And
Gawker of course.

Brad

Publish and Perish

Let's say that you DO discover something and publish it. What happens?

The graph here shows that there's interest initially, then it dies
out: http://bit.ly/fYvBit.

Brad

Drinking and grades

http://bit.ly/dJuXJE.

More study in this area is needed. Extraordinary claims require
extraordinary evidence.

Brad

Transparency International's Corruption

Perception Index (CPI)

is here: http://bit.ly/gKDzTq.

They use "corruption perception" measurements because corruption is
too hard to measure.

Still, Zimbabwe scores better than Russia. To me, that means their
measures are at least a little flawed. I read an economic analysis
that stated that, when corruption is high, voters, if they are
allowed, will tend to vote for smaller government. I assume the
reverse is true, if corruption perception is low, voters will tend to
agree to expand government. If and when I find that link, I will send
it.

I wouldn't advise, though, blogging about corruption in state-owned
companies if the perception is that corruption is high: http://bit.ly/h9vEA1.

Brad

FCPA Enforcement Action List

here: http://bit.ly/guJtzu.

Not just US companies.

Brad

How to Fix a Broken Marketplace

http://ping.fm/pgwiT

Brad

Housing Bubbles

The implication is that governments in general are pursuing policies
to encourage home ownership. This leads to an increase in house
prices, a bubble.

No word on how to figure out when the bubble will pop.

They present housing prices over time in kroner and house prices over
time in gold. (http://ping.fm/yY1UI
I would lilke to see house prices compared to rental costs, since this
is the economic decision people have to make.

Brad