Saturday, September 13, 2025

Woodlands and Wetlands Could be Worth More When Left to Nature Than When Farmed

Study suggests that the assumption that greater economic benefits follow from developing resources, rather than conservation, is false.

Why the U.S. Manufacturing Renaissance Is Essential for U.S. Survival

Maintaining and reviving manufacturing capacity in key insutries is vital to preserving jobs and ensuring U.S. survival.

Resurrected Politically, Lula Goes After Bolsonaro’s ‘Moronic’ Handling of Covid-19 Pandemic

A Brazilian court this week rehabilitated former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, clearing the way for a 2022 presidential bid.

Work in 2021: What Makes a “Good Job” Good?

Musing on the place of work in society.

2:00PM Water Cooler 3/10/2021

~ Today’s Water Cooler ~

Former Board Member JJ Jelincic Sues CalPERS Over Illegal Secret Board Discussion After CIO Ben Meng’s Abrupt Departure and Hiding of Records Related to $583 Million Overstatement of Real Estate Assets

Former CalPERS board member JJ Jelincic is pursuing the thankless task of getting the agency to shape up. He may have found a leverage point.

Unsafe at Any Speed: Don’t Park Your Kia Sportage or Cadenza in the Garage, or Near Your House, for That Matter

For owners of Kia’s Sportage and Cadenza models, unsafe at any speed includes parking the vehicle in the garage.

Links 3/10/2021

Wolf Richter: Signs Are Everywhere: Businesses Have Changed Permanently as a Result of the Pandemic

The pandemic has caused many shifts in how businesses operate: permanent and many are positives and should have happened a long time ago.

H.R.1 (the “For the People Act”) Legitimizes WaPo’s McCarthy-ite PropOrNot “Reporting,” Institutionalizes Ballot Marking Devices, and Cripples Minor Parties

Some flaws in H.R.1, the enormous Democrat election reform bill.

2:00PM Water Cooler 3/9/2021

~ Today’s Water Cooler ~

Links 3/9/2021

Global Transformation: The Precariat Overcoming Populism

A contribution to debate urging the mainstream left not to be distracted by populism. Aim instead for what we know about the near Future.

SoftBank-Funded Fintech Upstart Greensill Crashes, Carnage Ensues

Supply chain finance disuptor Greensill is undone by its own financial wizardry, putting at risk thousands of jobs in the UK, Australia and the EU. The timing could not be worse for already buckling supply chains.    

DSGE, the Standard Economic Paradigm, is Based on Bad Modeling

Why the New Keynesian Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) is a straightjacket for macroeconomics.