Fiscal Austerity Does Not Work in a Liquidity Trap

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Does this influence what you think about today's deficit spending?

This is not to say that the private sector should not deleverage. It has to. It is a part of the economy’s healing process and a necessary first step toward a self-sustaining economic recovery. However, deleveraging is a beast of a burden that capitalism cannot bear alone. At the macro level, deleveraging must be a managed process: for the private sector to deleverage without causing a depression, the public sector has to move in the opposite direction and re-lever by effectively viewing the balance sheets of the monetary and fiscal authorities as a consolidated whole.

1940 US Census

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The 1940 census records were released by the US National Archives April 2, 2012, and brought online through a partnership with Archives.com. This website allows you full access to the 1940 census images, in addition to 1940 census maps and descriptions. Unfortunately, they're not really searchable yet.

Federalism: Competition Among Governments

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For much the same reason, competition among governments leads to better governance. In choosing where to live, people can compare public...

Climategate

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Gus or Brian, Either one of you following these hacked emails from Scientists and Climatoligists who were allegedly trying to stifle dissent in the global warming debate as well as conceal scientific data that contradicts their models? I’ve only seen a bit of it, but I’m trying to figure out what’s legit and what’s exaggeration. Pretty interesting stuff.

Beef, Its What’s For Dinner

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Genetic changes that apparently allow humans to live longer than any other primate may be rooted in a more carnivorous diet. These changes may also promote brain development and make us less vulnerable to diseases of aging, such as cancer, heart disease and dementia.