3121. We Must Stop Saying “Must”
Scott Sumner critiques the use of the term "must" in economic discourse, arguing it obscures human choice and misrepresents market dynamics.
3122. Design Your Own Rug!
A personal account of designing a custom rug that combines traditional Afghan art with scientific motifs, emphasizing quality, affordability, and supporting local weavers.
3123. Inflation Adjusted House Prices 2.0% Below 2022 Peak; Price-to-rent index is 9.3% below 2022 peak
The post analyzes inflation-adjusted house prices and the price-to-rent index, noting their current status relative to 2022 peaks and historical trends.
3124. Fossil Fool
Paul Krugman critiques the European Union's ineffective response to Trump's trade policies, highlighting empty promises regarding investments and energy imports.
3125. The only thing worse than sweatshops is no sweatshops
An argument that sweatshops, despite their poor conditions, provide significant economic benefits and opportunities for workers in developing countries, outweighing the negatives associated with them.
3126. The U.S. economy rebounds to 3% growth in second quarter — but tariffs skew picture
Scott Horsley discusses the U.S. economy's 3% growth in the second quarter and how tariffs affect the economic outlook.
3127. MBA: Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest Weekly Survey
Mortgage applications fell significantly, with both purchase and refinance activity declining due to economic uncertainty affecting homebuyer decisions.
3128. Trump keeps pressuring the Fed to cut rates. Here's why its independence matters
The post discusses Trump's pressure on the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates and the significance of the Fed's independence in this context.
3129. The Fed holds interest rates steady despite intense pressure from Trump
Scott Horsley discusses the Federal Reserve's likely decision to maintain interest rates amid pressure from President Trump to lower them.
3130. My 1988 Southeast Asia trip
The author reflects on a seven-week solo trip through Southeast Asia in 1988, sharing experiences, observations, and lessons learned about culture, tourism, and personal growth.
3131. Summer School 4: Who are all these regulations protecting?
An argument that government regulations may protect the interests of the wealthy rather than the general public, questioning the necessity of certain licensing requirements.
3132. Forecasts: CEA >> IMF > WSJ
Menzie Chinn analyzes global economic forecasts from various institutions, highlighting growth projections, inflation expectations, and associated risks for 2025 and 2026.
3133. Global Trade Imbalances: An IMF Perspective
Timothy Taylor discusses the factors behind global trade imbalances in 2024, highlighting the roles of investment levels and government borrowing in the US versus China and the euro area.
3134. Is Epstein the new Russiagate?
Nate Silver discusses the media's obsession with the Epstein case and its potential political implications for Trump, contrasting public interest with political reporting.
3135. Conference Board: Economic Confidence Up (a Little)
Menzie Chinn discusses the slight improvement in the Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index and its implications for economic expectations and recession signals.
3136. Drugmaker Novo Nordisk slashes Wegovy sales forecasts, blaming compounding
Sydney Lupkin discusses how compounding pharmacies are impacting sales of Novo Nordisk's obesity drug Wegovy by producing copies of the medication.
3137. Tuesday's Assorted Links
The author discusses various stories that illustrate economic principles and their applications in everyday life, along with insights on teaching economics.
![[Rerun] Rocío Titiunik, Political Scientist and Quantitative Methodologist, Princeton](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SJTY!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe3f9f546-61db-47a8-b9db-d52958747004_1792x1024.heic)
3138. [Rerun] Rocío Titiunik, Political Scientist and Quantitative Methodologist, Princeton
An interview highlights Rocío Titiunik's contributions to political science, her journey in academia, and her insights on quantitative methods and causal inference.
3139. The EPA proposes gutting its greenhouse gas rules. Here's what it means for cars and pollution
The post discusses the EPA's proposal to weaken greenhouse gas regulations, impacting car emissions and pollution standards.
3140. Introducing We Have Never Been Woke
The post explores a book analyzing the concept of "wokeness," its historical context, and the contradictions exhibited by elite students in response to political events.