Category Media
Public Enemy and public goods
Once upon a time, musicians made money by selling albums. Now that people download music, this strategy doesn't work well. But what is the alternative? In 2007, Radiohead thrilled fans and economists alike with a new approach to music distribution. They distributed their album In Rainbows electronically, allowing fans to pay any price they chose […]
Economic nationalism and potash
Those were the topics of an online discussion in which I participated at the Globe and Mail this morning.
Why readers believe this blog is too left wing — or too right wing or too…
When Stephen Gordon's recent post on heating costs was reprinted in the National Post's Full Comment section, a few commentators were somewhat hostile: "What a surprise that a professor from Quebec believes we should take even more from 'the rich' and give to 'the poor.'" "If this socialist extremist had his way…" My recent post […]
Economy Lab: Why Canada’s manufacturing sector is dwindling
That's the title of my latest post on the Globe and Mail's Economy Lab site.
Economy Lab
The email came the day I wrote a post called "Another rant about the Globe and Mail's coverage of economics." It was an offer "that I hope you can't refuse" – to participate in the Globe and Mail's new feature Economy Lab. Another day I might have said no, but I could hardly rant about […]
Another rant about the Globe and Mail’s coverage of economics
One of the featured articles in today’s Globe and Mail is on “Economists and their fairy tale world of prognostication.” I don’t mind people taking pot shots at the economics profession – I do it myself. But at least try to get the shot remotely on target.
Blogging as crack
Compared to other forms of writing, especially academic writing, blogging is like crack. (Not that I would know, about crack I mean). It is cheap and easy; the hits come very quickly (once Stephen had invested all the years of hard work to get this blog going for the rest of us free-loaders); the hits […]
We’re frozen at #8 on the Palgrave
The Palgrave Econolog seems to have been frozen since June 16. I shouldn't complain, since this blog is also frozen as ranked 8th out of 456 economics and finance blogs, which is really good, and better than we've ever been, I think. But I do wish the Palgrave would re-start, even if it does mean […]
Copyright laws and the evolutionary theory of property rights
Buildings nests helps animals survive. Fighting over nests is costly. The rule "don't take other people's nests" encourages nest building, minimizes blood shed, and is found in many species. The biologist Maynard Smith first proposed this idea in the 1970s. More recently Herb Gintis and other economists have used it to explain the evolution of property […]
What are we, chopped liver?
Sigh. The Economist has assembled a group of 50 economists from around the world to Discuss Important Matters; I invite you to play the game of "Spot the Excluded G7 Country".
Worthwhile Canadian Initiative 
Recent Comments