Real-World Economics Review

from Robert Locke I am constantly perplexed by the way people on this blog handle the development of science as a history of ideas.  I find this view particularly expressed in the exchange of opinions Asad  Zaman provokes in his posts and comments to which others respond.  I have noted that trying to explain the development of science without going into the political, social, and economic environment in which science exists, will not bear much explanatory fruit.  Here are three examples of...

Branko Milanovic gets philosophical about productive and unproductive labour. Is a dentist productive? A soldier? A lobbyist? Seen from the angle of national accounting such questions, important as they are, are beside the point as these accounts aim to gauge total income and all labour which yields an income (wages, profits, whatever) is considered to be productive. As it enables people to gain an income…  People work for the money, even when they are protecting the environment. Which...

Donald Trump is right and wrong about unemployment. He’s right that 20% unemployment is a f*cking shame and calls for action. A fact not acknowledged by (neoclassical) economists, who for Europe calculate ‘equilibrium’ unemployment (NAIRU, see this post by Lars Syll) in countries like Spain to be higher than 20%.These official (!) estimates are beyond ridiculous! Small wonder that people flock to politicians like Trump. Trump  is however wrong to state that USA unemployment is 20%....

In car footage from SS9 on the Red Dragon IT Stages at Down Ampney. Dean Baker/Andy Falconer - Ford Escort Mk2 - 7th Overall, 3rd Class C

Cool

Dean Baker and Dale Page covering the beautiful 'Into the Mystic', originally written and performed by Van Morrison

A unique twist on the classic Michael Jackson hit 'Billie Jean', by Dean Baker and Dale Page.

No copyright infringement intended, I did not write this book or create the illustrations.