Now that my PhD is done—for the water wave aficionados out there, I will post a link to the preprint of my research sometime soon, I hope1—it’s time to start catching up on things. The writeup on my math, linguistics…
Economics
Posts about economics. I’m interpreting this broadly to include business and finance, as well as topics that might not traditionally be considered economics but that rely on economic analysis or perspectives. (As of 2014, I now have a subcategory for finance.)
Finance, Interesting Links, Math, Social Science
Links: Crowds and the Recession, Snowden, Win $1 Million with Circuits, Social Choice Theory, and More
by Rafe Kinsey •
As promised, more substantive posts (including a reflection on my freshman seminar on math, linguistics, and writing) to come soon, once I finish my thesis.1 For now, assorted links accrued over procrastination during thesis-writing. Terry Tao has a really cool…
Economics, Interesting Links, Probability, Technology
Links: The Future of the Left, Tech Intellectuals, Self-Serve Gas Stations, Etc
by Rafe Kinsey •
Simon Winchester, My First Mistake. An article by Peter Beinart on the future of the left. Paul Berman argues for music lessons. Is anyone else as confused as I am about how it’s possible that a new ligament in the…
Economics, Interesting Links, Literature, Technology, Writing
Links: Pynchon, Marissa Mayer, Larry Summers, Finance, Blogging
by Rafe Kinsey •
I have a bit of a backlog here, but really what’s so important about being timely with these things? Who cares if many of these came out in the end of August…it’s been a busy semester. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Pavlov…
Economics, Finance, Interesting Links, Literature
Links: Economics, Breaking Bad, the Moon, Entrepreneurship, Albert Murray, Etc.
by Rafe Kinsey •
Shockingly, it’s difficult to keep up a blog while finishing a Ph.D., designing a new course, and looking for jobs. I have some drafts of substantive posts that I hope to polish up and publish soon. For now, some more…
Economics, Education, Interesting Links, Probability
Links: Probability and DNA Testing, 16th Century Executioners, Walmart as a Bank, Etc.
by Rafe Kinsey •
Jordan Ellenberg has an excellent article in Slate about probability and DNA testing for crimes. This is important to think about, especially as we consider the implications of the recent Supreme Court decision on such testing. (In particular, the larger…
Economics, Law, Technology
Remember Learned Hand Before Criticizing Apple’s Tax Practices
by Rafe Kinsey •
Apple is the news, charged by Congress with evading taxes. In any discussion about taxation, the following quote from the great judge Learned Hand1 should be kept in mind: Any one may so arrange his affairs that his taxes shall…
Economics, Education, Interesting Links, Law, Technology
Interesting Articles: Syria, Free Speech and Privacy Online, Dogs, Fossil Fuels, How to Win at Poker, and More
by Rafe Kinsey •
A good article by Dexter Filkins in the New Yorker on Syria. A really complicated situation. An interesting etymology from the recent New Yorker article (paywall) by Rivka Galchen about Elmhurst Hospital: The word “pedagogy” comes from the Greek term…
Economics, Sports
Larry Summers and Glenn Hubbard Shooting Hoops
by Rafe Kinsey •
This week’s New York Times magazine features an article by Adam Davison about economists Larry Summers and Glenn Hubbard. Forgive me for being superficial and ignoring the weighty macroeconomic topics discussed in the article; instead I’m going to offer three…
Economics, Exposition, Law, Math
The Irrationality of Committees and Courts: A Voting Paradox
by Rafe Kinsey •
Many things in life are decided by groups of people making judgments together—in courts, committees, board rooms, legislatures, etc. Collective decision-making has much to recommend it: groups of people can pool their wisdom, no one person can rule by fiat,…