‘Ideally controlled experiments’ tell us with certainty what causes what effects — but only given the right closures. Making appropriate extrapolations from (ideal, accidental, natural or quasi) experiments to different settings, populations or target systems, is not easy. ‘It works there’ is no evidence for ‘it will work here.’ Causes deduced in an experimental setting still have to show that they come with a transportability warrant to the target population. The causal...

Unraveling the Soviet-American Dichotomy

Blog What’s next for climate efforts in 2024? A look at Brazil’s role at COP28 and why it matters for an election year in the UK. By Fernanda Balata 20 December 2023 At this year’s global climate summit, there were many contradictions on show, but...

J.P. asks AI to summarize their discussion on better government from the other day. J.P. McJefferson: “Chatting With AI On Better Government,” jpmcjefferson.blogspot.com. ME (J.P.) This discussion we’ve been having is somewhat long and detailed. I’m afraid people may not have the time to read it all. Do you think there is any way you could summarize this in about 300 words? ChatGPT Certainly! Here’s a concise summary of the (earlier)...

Parts of the Mexican border are already closed due to the influx of migrants. Puerto Peñasco or Rocky Point and Lukeville crossing, Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras, San Ysidro, etc. and several rail crossings. Reader Jim Han offered up a Thom Hartmann commentary suggesting Dems take the deal Repubs are offering up. Thom also points the finger at Repub commentary claiming a Biden policy opened southern borders to all who can get to it. Not true...

Tendentiös statlig utredning tar storbankernas parti En orsakt till bankernas läge är framgångsrik lobbyism, vilket syns särskilt tydligt i betalningsutredningen som just nu behandlas av regeringen. Utredningens huvudfråga var: Ska staten ge ut kontanter och digitala e-kronor – eller ska svenska kronan bli utkonkurrerad av privata alternativ? När vi går igenom utredningen ser vi att den oförblommerat tar bankernas parti … När Riksbanken lanserade idén om...

The question that the mainstream economists should be paraded out in front of the public and forced to answer is how can Japan do this and experience economic growth (albeit moderate) while the rest of the world is contracting due to misconceived monetary and fiscal tightening and is recording inflation rates above the Japanese rate?The New Keynesian mob never directly answer questions like that because they cannot.William Mitchell — Modern Monetary TheoryThe parallel universe in Japan...

Modern Monetary Theory is a lie!

Here’s why I think there was no pull back. 

Housing under construction continues to levitate  – by New Deal democrat Although they aren’t the most leading of housing metrics, because of supply-chain issues during the pandemic, housing units under construction has been the most important one, because they represent the actual economic activity of construction. With the exception of 2001, which was an investment-led downturn, they also have always turned down significantly before a...