Archive for November, 2010

November 22nd, 2010

Mark Kleiman has had a number of posts wondering why moderate Republicans don’t bolt their party. To paraphrase what he says, with no small amount of frustration, when will the rest of the moderates (along with science-loving, principled conservatives) wake up and realize their party is gone and what remains doesn’t represent their views and [...]

November 21st, 2010

One disadvantage of a defined-contribution world compared to a defined-benefit world is the burden it puts on personal financial decision-making.

November 20th, 2010

The Pope says condom use by male prostitutes might be “a first step.”

November 20th, 2010

Ian Ayres to indebted graduates: buy stocks on margin!

November 19th, 2010

In London last week I had dinner with a friend at one of the Victorian-Era gentleman’s clubs (now co-ed). In the drawing room was “the Answer Book”, in which any member could write a question for any other member to answer. The book went back almost to the war, and the questions were wide-ranging. Someone [...]

November 19th, 2010

Working together, NY’s government and nonprofits can help maintain the state’s primacy as innovator, incubator and magnet for investment. Here’s how.

November 18th, 2010

Barack Obama has decided to take a stand on the New START treaty. That confronts Senate Republicans with a choice: they can help the Iranians, or they can help the President.

I’m betting on the Iranians.

November 18th, 2010

You can be a believer in making climate policy based on science, or you can be a Republican. You cannot be both.

November 18th, 2010

A few weeks ago I did a symposium with some Iraqi colleagues in Marrakech, during which I stayed at the Ryad Mogador Menara hotel, which does not serve alcohol. The locals told me that when it opened, the smart set predicted swift bankruptcy. But the hotel has done a brisk business since, including during the [...]

November 18th, 2010

Yes, communication is among the subjects of the humanities. And yes, the capacity to communicate clearly has great economic value. But no, instruction in the humanities does not, in general, aim at improving job-relevant communications skills.