Mike Norman Economics

How has a country of under five million people become a world leader in developing holistic policies that promote democratic, sustainable, and inclusive economic growth? The answer lies in its people's belief that focusing on the welfare of all citizens not only enhances wellbeing, but also increases productivity. Project SyndicateHow Costa Rica Gets It Right Joseph E. Stiglitz | Nobel laureate in economics, University Professor at Columbia University, and Chief Economist at the Roosevelt...

Must-read. What we have there, then, are two different conceptions of a JG. On the one hand, it might be a policy which helps capitalism function better (Keynes). But on the other, it might be a form of transitional demand – a policy which whilst fulfilling human needs is one that cannot actually be sustainably adopted by capitalism and is instead a stepping stone towards socialism (Marx). I’m honestly not sure which it is. I would not put it in terms of capitalism and socialism but...

Driving Iran into the arms of China, just like Russia and increasingly Turkey, hastening de-dollarization and creating a wider split between the East and West, and Global North and Global South.Another brilliant move. NOT.Zero HedgeUS Moves To Cut Off Iran From Global Economy Tyler DurdenSee also at ZHWhat could go wrong?Leaked Doc Reveals White House Planning "Regime Change" In Iran

According to the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, Americans will spend an average $400 per household more on fuel this year than in 2016. By contrast, middle-income US households will on average gain $930 from the tax cut bill.... Zero HedgeGas Price Tops $4 In California For First Time Since July 2014 Tyler Durden

Addressing the Russian Parliament following his inauguration, Vladimir Putin observed the necessity of increasing Russia’s economic sovereignty and independence from the petrodollar system, stressing that the West is boosting this process through its economic bullying in the form of sanctions.... De-dollarization is a Russian priority.Zero HedgePutin: The Whole World Sees The "Dangerous Dollar Monopoly" Tyler Durden See also at ZH Playing US Sanctions: China Walks A Fine Line In Iran

Another good one. No spoiler from me.Caitlin Johnstone — Rogue JournalistHow To Silence RT Forever Caitlin JohnstoneSee also“Iran Is Completely Different! This US-Led Regime Change Will Work Out Fine!” Also Consortium NewsThe Coming War Against Iran John Kiriakou, former CIA counterterrorism officer and a former senior investigator with the Senate Foreign Relations CommitteeAlso at CNWar Clouds Gather Around Iran Inder Comar, executive director of Just Atonement Inc., a legal...

If Trump’s trade policy toward US allies is ‘phony’, by seeking only token adjustments to trade relations, then the US trade offensive targeting China is for real. While Trump has repeatedly exempted US allies from tariffs (steel and aluminum), pitched ‘softball’ deals (South Korea), and tweeted repeatedly how well negotiations are going with NAFTA, in stark contrast the actions and words of the US toward China and trade negotiations in progress have been ‘hardball’. Jack Rasmus looks at...

Positive. Michael Roberts BlogMarx and Keynes in BerlinMichael Roberts The ConversationKarl Marx: ten things to read if you want to understand him James Muldoon, Lecturer in Political Science, University of Exeterand Robert Jackson, Lecturer in Politics, Manchester Metropolitan University Negative. BloombergRemember Marx for How Much He Got Wrong Noah Smith, Contributor Grasping RealityUnderstanding Karl MarxBrad DeLong | Professor of Economics, UCAL Berkeley Neutral Collège de...

Short summary. Worth read. Eric Falkenstein is a financial economist rather than a historian but he has done his research on this.FalkenblogThe History of Individual Property Rights Eric Falkenstein

This is the first detailed examination of the Chinese social credit system that is being introduced.  SSRNChina's Social Credit System: An Evolving Practice of ControlRogier Creemers, Leiden University - Van Vollenhoven Institute ht Tyler Cowen at Marginal Revolution