1421. Roundup #75: Checking in on the Bad Guys
The post examines the economic factors contributing to unrest in Iran, including a severe water crisis, inflation, and the impact of U.S. sanctions on the regime's stability.
1422. Claude Code Series part 6: Video Explainer of Claude Code in Action
The post provides a video walkthrough of using Claude Code for empirical projects, emphasizing the importance of personal experience and individual workflow styles.
1423. John Stuart Mill Further Demonstrates The Marx Follows From Ricardo
An argument that Mill's interpretation of Ricardo's labor value aligns with Marx's theory of surplus value, highlighting the relationship between profits and wages.
1424. Negative political externalities from migration to Britain?
An argument that immigration's impact on British politics may be overstated, emphasizing the need to recognize positive aspects while addressing potential negative political externalities.
1425. How have prices changed in a year? NPR checked 114 items at Walmart
The post examines price changes of various items at Walmart, highlighting factors like tariffs, weather impacts, and shrinkflation.
1426. China's trade surplus surges 20% to a record $1.2 trillion, even with Trump's tariffs
The Associated Press discusses China's record trade surplus of $1.2 trillion, highlighting its growth despite the tariffs imposed by Trump.
1427. Groceries Rose 9% m/m (annualized) in December
Menzie Chinn discusses the rise in grocery prices and forecasts from the USDA Economic Research Service, highlighting the impact on consumers and specific food items like coffee.
1428. Bond Yields and Dollar and Odds on Powell
An argument that bond yields and the dollar's value fluctuate due to perceptions of Federal Reserve independence and the political landscape surrounding Chair Powell's tenure.
1429. Gianluca Benigno: “Tariffs as National Security Tools”
Menzie Chinn discusses how tariffs can serve as national security tools to maintain domestic production of essential goods and address market vulnerabilities.
1430. FTC accuses AI search engine of 'rampant consumer deception'
An argument that a company managing AI answer landing pages deceived users into incurring unexpected monthly charges, prompting federal scrutiny.
1431. Tuesday's Assorted Links
Jadrian Wooten discusses various stories related to economic principles and teaching, including unemployment expectations, electric vehicle registrations, and a debate on remote versus in-office work compensation.
1432. Trump is Venezuelifying the United States
An argument that political pressure on the Federal Reserve undermines its independence, risking economic stability and drawing parallels to authoritarian regimes' manipulation of monetary policy.
1433. Closing out tabs across many devices
Scott Cunningham discusses his preparations for teaching, reflections on research, and various topics including AI, economics, and pop culture.
1434. Avoiding the Resource Trap in Post-Maduro Venezuela
The post discusses Venezuela's need for institutional reforms and careful economic policies to avoid dependency on oil and prevent corruption after Maduro's presidency.
1435. Gangster affordability
Noah Smith compares Donald Trump's governance style to Napoleon's, suggesting both exhibit gangster-like traits in their approach to power and institutions.
1436. “Talking Heads Are Missing Labor Market Strength”: Heritage Chief Economist
An argument that recent employment trends highlight discrepancies between native-born and foreign-born workers, questioning the validity of certain economic claims and methodologies.
1437. California fire victims say fighting with insurance companies has delayed rebuilding
Homeowners affected by wildfires in California report that disputes with insurance companies are hindering their recovery and rebuilding efforts.
1438. What to know about Trump's ugly feud with the Federal Reserve
Scott Horsley discusses the Trump administration's attempts to influence the Federal Reserve amid an ongoing Justice Department investigation.
1439. Wide Dispersion in Nowcasts and Tracking
The discussion highlights significant discrepancies in GDP nowcasts from various institutions and the divergence between employment and output indicators.
1440. Some Snapshots of the US Demographic Future
Timothy Taylor discusses the long-term demographic trends in the US, focusing on population aging, fertility rates, and immigration's impact on the economy.