Monthly Archives: May 2009

Buyers Aware

Posted on May 31, 2009 by Nicholas Gruen

I’ve been thinking for a while about retail and information flows.  If sellers were performing their task in a socially efficient way, they would be conveying the best information they could to their customers.  Of course retailers and marketers don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and public policy | 11 Comments

Popular books on Economics

Posted on May 31, 2009 by Nicholas Gruen

Someone asked me the other day for ten books on economics that they should read (not being an economist). I haven’t given this a lot of thought, but here are some books – and some comments on them. I’m hoping … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and public policy | 20 Comments

Samson and Delilah

Posted on May 30, 2009 by Nicholas Gruen

Having just read this pussy footing review of this film, I am brought back to thinking about it, though not that much.  I saw it last week in Sydney while killing some time before heading off to my hotel for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Films and TV | 31 Comments

Another immortal game

Posted on May 30, 2009 by Nicholas Gruen

By which I mean, one in which amazing, deep moves are made, and after a flurry of sacrifices, the king is slain, with each of its opponents’ remaining pieces playing a role in dropping the final curtain. For those of … Continue reading →

Posted in Chess | 3 Comments

Three choices

Posted on May 29, 2009 by Nicholas Gruen

From Martin Wolf  We have three alternatives: liquidation; inflation; or growth. A policy of liquidation would proceed via mass bankruptcy and the collapse of a large part of the existing credit. That is an insane choice. A deliberate policy of … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and public policy | Comments Off on Three choices

Pick the non sequitur

Posted on May 29, 2009 by Ken Parish

Sydney Morning Herald 29 May 2009 An abattoir worker has been jailed for eight years for raping his 14-year-old stepdaughter and then blaming his crime on her wearing short skirts around the house. The man, who cannot be named as … Continue reading →

Posted in Law | 5 Comments

A nice piece by a well known author with good taste in citations!

Posted on May 29, 2009 by Nicholas Gruen

But then I would say that wouldn’t I? Lawrence Lessig quotes an Australian economist explaining why free access to public goods isn’t ‘socialism’, it’s ‘civil society’.  Lessig’s piece is below the fold. 

Posted in Economics and public policy, History, IT and Internet, Philosophy, Politics - international | Comments Off on A nice piece by a well known author with good taste in citations!