Econ Blog

your daily dose of economic commentary

Housing Starts Increased to 1.428 million Annual Rate in July

2861. Housing Starts Increased to 1.428 million Annual Rate in July

The post discusses the increase in housing starts and building permits in July, highlighting significant month-over-month and year-over-year changes in the housing market.

Day in a life of me on my first day in boston

2862. Day in a life of me on my first day in boston

Scott Cunningham shares his experiences on his first day in Boston, detailing his activities at Harvard and MIT, including meetings and personal reflections.

Businesses face 'chaos' as EPA aims to repeal its authority over climate pollution

2863. Businesses face 'chaos' as EPA aims to repeal its authority over climate pollution

Michael Copley discusses how businesses prefer EPA oversight on climate regulations for legal protection and investment stability.

*Capitalism: A Global History*, by Sven Beckert

2864. *Capitalism: A Global History*, by Sven Beckert

Tyler Cowen critiques Sven Beckert's book for its lack of coherence and understanding of capitalism, questioning its historical analysis and conclusions.

How algorithms are changing the way we speak

2865. How algorithms are changing the way we speak

Julia Ritchey discusses how social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram are influencing language and communication through engagement metrics and viral trends.

EJ Antoni in August: “…an increasing number of indicators say the recession has arrived in the broader economy.”

2866. EJ Antoni in August: “…an increasing number of indicators say the recession has arrived in the broader economy.”

An argument that rising debt levels and collapsing consumer credit indicate an impending recession, challenging perceptions of economic growth.

“Reserves, Sanctions and Tariffs in a Time of Uncertainty”

2867. “Reserves, Sanctions and Tariffs in a Time of Uncertainty”

Menzie Chinn analyzes the impact of sanctions, tariffs, and political factors on central bank reserve holdings of currencies and gold from 1999 to 2022.

2868. Miles's Custom AI Summarizes His Proposal for a Public Contribution Program

Miles Kimball proposes a public contribution program to expand the nonprofit sector, arguing it can effectively substitute for government spending while addressing national debt concerns.

Framing up the next move in monetary policy: Powell at Jackson Hole

2869. Framing up the next move in monetary policy: Powell at Jackson Hole

The post discusses Powell's upcoming speech at Jackson Hole, focusing on the Fed's monetary policy framework review amid challenges of inflation and employment.

WSJ Op-Ed on Implications of EJ Antoni’s Views on Inflation

2870. WSJ Op-Ed on Implications of EJ Antoni’s Views on Inflation

Menzie Chinn discusses EJ Antoni's views on inflation and their potential implications for tax thresholds and economic measurements.

2871. Federal Reserve Independence: Not Just a Good Idea, It’s the Law

Timothy Taylor discusses the legal and historical basis for the Federal Reserve's independence from political influence, emphasizing its importance for effective monetary policy.

LA Ports: Imports Up, Exports Down in July

2872. LA Ports: Imports Up, Exports Down in July

Container traffic data reveals an increase in imports and a decrease in exports at LA ports, indicating trends in trade activity and seasonal patterns.

'SNL' castmember Bowen Yang shares a piece of 'cultural contraband' from his youth

2873. 'SNL' castmember Bowen Yang shares a piece of 'cultural contraband' from his youth

The post discusses Bowen Yang's childhood experiences with pop culture and his rise to fame as an Emmy-nominated cast member of a popular sketch show.

3rd Look at Local Housing Markets in July

2874. 3rd Look at Local Housing Markets in July

Bill McBride discusses the July housing market trends in Houston, highlighting increased home sales and record-high inventory leading to price declines.

How many seats will Texas redistricting cost Democrats?

2875. How many seats will Texas redistricting cost Democrats?

The post analyzes Texas redistricting's impact on Democratic representation, highlighting potential seat losses and the political strategies behind the Republican-led map changes.

Newsmax pays $67 million to settle defamation case linked to 2020 election coverage

2876. Newsmax pays $67 million to settle defamation case linked to 2020 election coverage

Maddy Lauria reports that Newsmax will pay $67 million to Dominion Voting Systems related to its 2020 election coverage.

AI Is Power-Hungry

2877. AI Is Power-Hungry

An argument that AI's growth is constrained by physical resource limitations, particularly electricity demand, and the political challenges surrounding renewable energy development.

Why Your Loan Balance Isn’t Going Down, Even When You’re Paying A Lot

2878. Why Your Loan Balance Isn’t Going Down, Even When You’re Paying A Lot

Jadrian Wooten explains how high interest rates and compounding interest on student loans can lead to increasing balances despite making large monthly payments.

Made it to Brookline, plus some thoughts about mid 20th century market for programmers and my dad

2879. Made it to Brookline, plus some thoughts about mid 20th century market for programmers and my dad

The author shares experiences of moving to Brookline, settling in with a roommate, and exploring the local area while reflecting on personal anecdotes and social interactions.

NAHB: "Builder Confidence Plateaus at Relatively Low Level"'; "Negative territory for 16 consecutive months"

2880. NAHB: "Builder Confidence Plateaus at Relatively Low Level"'; "Negative territory for 16 consecutive months"

Bill McBride discusses the NAHB's report on declining builder confidence in the housing market, highlighting ongoing challenges like affordability and regulatory issues.