More Zombie Cartoons from Bizarro

(Credit: Bizarro!)

I'm really quite sick, feeling terrible.

So, I am going to go see "Zombieland," which will cheer me greatly.

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss

There is a very clever and interesting article in the inaugural issue of the AEJ: Macroeconomics by Raghuram Rajan (ungated version here) called "Rent Preservation and the Persistence of Underdevelopment" about why basic reforms are delayed in many countries, even those holding elections.

The core of his argument is that:

When citizens in a poor constrained society are very unequally endowed, they are likely to 

find it hard to agree on reforms, even though the status quo hurts them collectively. Each 

citizen group or constituency prefers reforms that expand its opportunities, but in an unequal 

society, this will typically hurt another constituency’s rents. Competitive rent preservation 

ensures no comprehensive reform path may command broad support. The roots of 

underdevelopment may therefore lie in the natural tendency towards rent preservation in a 

divided society.  

P.S. Dan Sutter and I took a crack at why reforms are delayed a while ago (paper is here).

Here we go again

Why do so many people think that economic progress is some kind of zero sum game?

Here is a recent NY Times article about the size of the Japanese and Chinese economies.

The headline is "Chinese economic juggernaut is gaining on Japan" and the first sentence reads: "For years, Japan as been readying itself for the day that it is eclipsed economically by China."

Here is some more:

 ..many economists expect Japan to cede its rank as the world’s second-largest economy sometime next year, as much as five years earlier than previously forecast.

At stake are more than regional bragging rights: the reversal of fortune will bring an end to a global economic order that has prevailed for 40 years, with ramifications across arenas from trade and diplomacy to, potentially, military power.

China’s rise could accelerate Japan’s economic decline ...

From there it gets downright funny:

China has also surpassed Japan in having the biggest trade surplus and foreign currency reserves, as well as the highest steel production. And next year, China could overtake Japan as the largest automobile producer.

To be fair, there is a flash of sanity near the end of the piece:

Some economists say Japan does not need to fear its neighbor. China became Japan’s largest trading partner in 2006, and China-bound exports were among the first to show signs of recovery in the recent slump. As the global auto market stagnates, carmakers like Toyota and Nissan are making a renewed play for the Chinese market.

Indeed.

People, the UK, France and Germany all seem to have survived being "surpassed" by China.  They probably didn't even notice. 

Further, even if China doubled its current GDP, where would you rather live, in Japan or in China? For me that is a no-brainer. Japan would still be massively richer than a doubled GDP China, have better infrastructure, less pollution, and more freedom. 

China's rise is undeniable, but it is still a very poor country with a long way to go. And the mere fact that China is rising does not mean that others have to be falling.

A Fine Zombie Cartoon From Bizarro

The Lovely Ms. Mungowitz saved this for me, in the funnies. And now I share it with YOU.


And this is not a bad followup, by the way.

Dumbest Ads--College Edition

Here are some pretty amazing, and unintenionally funny, ads I have received via email in the last couple of weeks....

1. Don't miss a remarkable opportunity taking place in Raleigh, North Carolina in April, 2010. Hundreds of educators across disciplines will come together at the 2010 On Course National Conference (http://www.oncourseworkshop.com/Conference.htm) offered on April 8-10, 2010. Featured keynote speaker Ann Hermann (CEO of Hermann International) will present an invigorating opening session on brain-based thinking and learning styles.

Brain-based thinking? Really? That WILL be invigorating....

2. The Department of Politics and Geography at Coastal Carolina University is accepting applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Associate Professor. Appointment effective August 16, 2010. Successful candidate must be able to create, implement, and direct a new B.A. in Intelligence and National Security. Ph.D. is preferred, but an M.A. or J.D. with relevant experience will be considered.

So, they would prefer a PhD to be in charge of a program on intelligence, but they'll also consider a lawyer. (Nod to RL)

3. Seton Hill University seeks Assistant Professor of Political Science for tenure-track position starting August 2010. The faculty member will teach a range of courses throughout the discipline, including Comparative Politics and International Relations, as well as methodology and other courses in undergraduate Political Science. Ph.D. required. Background or teaching experience in genocide and/or Non-Western area studies desirable.

Background in genocide??!?! (And, yes, there is a "Seton Hill U") (Nod to RL)

Newsflash: Lula + Pele >> Obama + Oprah

In a stunner, Chicago was the first of the final four cities to eliminated from hosting the 2016 Olympics despite the presence of President O and mega-entrepeneur O (Oprah). The winner was Rio, championed by Brazil's President Lula and soccer immortal Pele.

Ouch.

Earlier in the week, Pele called out Michael Jordan for not going with the US delegation to lobby for Chicago and maybe he was right?

In the byzantine world of Olympic politics, Obama is somehow being faulted for not have spent enough time on task:

Chicago had long been seen as a front-runner and got the highest possible level of support — from President Barack Obama himself. But he only spent a few hours in the Danish capital where the vote was held and left before the result was announced. Former IOC member Kai Holm said that the brevity of his appearance may have counted against him.

The short stopover was "too business-like," Holm said. "It can be that some IOC members see it as a lack of respect."

That's funny, because, if anything, I would fault him for going and doing this in the first place.

Roamin' Polanski

Ken presents an argument from Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques, which I found appalling, amusing, and not surprising.

Ken does a fine job discussing the merits, and assumptions, of the Société.

And, as we should all see clearly, this is an excellent opportunity. All we need now is persuade Dick Cheney to make a trip to Switzerland. I know! The SACD can offer to give him an award.....

Angus plays games

Wow! We just got the Wii motion plus thingie and EA sports Grand Slam Tennis. It is way cool. The EA game with motion plus completely destroys the tennis game that came in the original Wii sports package. I haven't figured out how to serve fast, but you can come to net, put spin on the ball and really place your shots on the court with a precision and realism that was lacking in the original Wii tennis game. 

I am hacked though because Chris F. Evert beat me in a tie-breaker on my maiden match with the EA game!

Just comparing original tennis to the new tennis with motion plus, it is an entirely different game and experience. Way way better. A huge upgrade.

Close to you, part two

Why do birds suddenly appear, every time you are near?




Why do stars fall down from the sky, every time you walk by?





Just like me, they long to be, close to you.




On the day that you were born, the angels got together and decided to create a dream come true....

Cool Beans

One of the greatest American bands, Spoon, are releasing their first four albums for digital downloading in multiple formats ("premium" MP3, FLAC, Apple Lossless) with extra stuff included. Albums are available individually or in increasingly grandiose packages. If you don't have these works, or only have crappy MP3s of these works, I highly recommend getting them. Note that they do cost money though!

Besides being great musical artists, the band apparently are savvy bidnessmen as well. This download stuff is coming from spoontheband.com, so I guess they have gotten control of their own back catalog.

Here is an earlier KPC post about Spoon.