Category Archives: The dismal science

AI and the Productivity Paradox

AI has not delivered expected productivity gains. Some thoughts as to why.

Productivity Does Not Explain Wages

As long as we believe the neoclassical productivity farce, we will know nothing about what causes prices.

After the Argentina Debacle, the IMF Endorses Weakening Capital Controls in Ecuador

The IMF is backing a tax reform bill in Ecuador that will enable capital flight and further austerity.

Sweden Retreats from Negative Interest Rate Experiment

Sweden throws in the towel on its negative interest rate policy as inflation stays stubbornly low.

Virginia Supreme Court Upholds Ruling that George Mason University Foundation Is Not Subject to State FOIA Statute, Leaving Koch Funding Details Undisclosed

Virginia Supreme Court allows Koch influence to remain undisclosed; the decision has yet to attract much media attention.

Evil is Baked into Big Tech’s Business Plan. Now What?

In her new book, Don’t Be Evil, Rana Foroohar explores how companies like Google and their tech brethren stampede over all of us.

Mariana Mazzucato: What Is Economic Value, and Who Creates It?

Mariana Mazzucato takes apart conventional wisdom about how economic value is generated.

There is No Economics Without Politics

Debunking the pretense that the economics discipline is neutral or objective.

The Debt Delusion

A short take on John Week’s new book, The Debt Delusion, and why it matters.

Why the UK Needs a Financial Transaction Tax

Claims that a financial transaction tax would be difficult to implement and raise little revenue are fake news.

Neoliberalism and Climate Change

How economists have contributed to climate change inaction.

Repo Madness: Fed Plumbing Gone Awry

How the Fed’s fingerprints are all over the repo mess.

New Report Finds Costs of Climate Change Impacts Often Underestimated

Why most economists considerably underestimate the cost of climate change.