Your Friendly Neighborhood Economist

I Am My Brother's Keeper | Indiegogo

thomasmasterson — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 15:52:45 -0400

I Am My Brother's Keeper | Indiegogo:

Staley B. Keith Social Justice Center Fundraiser on Indiegogo.

Headline o' the Day by Digby - Hullabaloo

thomasmasterson — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 08:45:41 -0400

Headline o' the Day by Digby - Hullabaloo:

Not happy news. Still, not the worst it’s ever been …

Climate Change by the Numbers by Bob Ward - Project Syndicate

thomasmasterson — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 19:09:47 -0400

Climate Change by the Numbers by Bob Ward - Project Syndicate:

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is releasing its 5th assessment of how deep a pile we’re in. And it is not good news. The last time there was this much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the earth was 2-3 degrees warmer and sea levels were 20 meters (65 feet) higher. Would you like to buy some property in Florida now? How about Athens or Catskill? Maybe we should do something, hmmmmmmm?

U.S. Households’ Finances Regain Lost Ground - NYTimes.com

thomasmasterson — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:21:46 -0400

U.S. Households’ Finances Regain Lost Ground - NYTimes.com:

Total US household net worth is finally above where it was six years ago. But do you think everyone regained their wealth equally? Think again.

Young, black and buried in debt: How for-profit colleges prey on African-American ambition - Salon.com

thomasmasterson — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 08:00:52 -0400

Young, black and buried in debt: How for-profit colleges prey on African-American ambition - Salon.com

Required reading: A 1 percenter tells the truth about "job creators" - Hullabaloo

thomasmasterson — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 14:31:56 -0400

Required reading: A 1 percenter tells the truth about "job creators" - Hullabaloo:

I’m sure this fell on a lot of deaf ears, Republican and Democrat.

Income inequality in the U.S. is literally off the charts by David Atkins - Hullabaloo

thomasmasterson — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 14:17:47 -0400

Income inequality in the U.S. is literally off the charts by David Atkins - Hullabaloo:

OK, a little dramatic. It’s obviously a choice how to set up the axes on any chart you make. But the US is quite clearly a standout in terms of the level of income inequality, compared to other advanced countries.

Obamacare Rate Shock Debate: Subsidies make a huge difference | New Republic

thomasmasterson — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 09:57:20 -0400

Obamacare Rate Shock Debate: Subsidies make a huge difference | New Republic:

Spoiler alert: if you look only at costs and not benefits, Affordable Care Act looks worse than it is.

Jefferson County Bankruptcy - The Lessons Of Jefferson County - Esquire

thomasmasterson — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 09:32:25 -0400

Jefferson County Bankruptcy - The Lessons Of Jefferson County - Esquire:

In which crooked local politicians are grifted by even more crooked financial industry sharks* and the citizens are stuck with the tab. Just one example of the impact of the systematic fraud in the financial industry over the past decade.

* As my father would say, these guys are so crooked, they have to screw their socks on.

What Is “Time Poverty” and Why Should You Care? « Multiplier Effect

thomasmasterson — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 15:55:53 -0400

What Is “Time Poverty” and Why Should You Care? « Multiplier Effect:

Tooting my own horn: an EXCELLENT study by a group of economists including your humble servant.

Cuomo to introduce "Destination Resort Casino Act of 2013" - Politics on the Hudson

thomasmasterson — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 15:49:01 -0400

Cuomo to introduce "Destination Resort Casino Act of 2013" - Politics on the Hudson:

Looks to me like attempted extortion on Cuomo’s part and more about getting the tax revenue from the Seneca than about economic development for upstate. New casinos will bring in very little in terms of new visits in central New York, in my opinion.

Social Security and immigration: Put 'em on the grid Part XXIV by digby - Hullabaloo

thomasmasterson — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 15:45:47 -0400

Social Security and immigration: Put 'em on the grid Part XXIV by digby - Hullabaloo:

I agree with the general idea: that immigration reform will help the pressure on Social Security by bringing more jobs into the formal employment system (rather than informal, under-the-table jobs). BUT, the immigration reform being proposed by Rubio is designed to make it harder on immigrants than it already is (apparently because Rubio thinks they get a walk in the park by coming here). One of the biggest problems I see is that under that ‘reform’ immigrants will be required to pay income and payroll taxes for over a decade without being entitled to any of the benefits paid for by those taxes unless they somehow manage to make it through the twisted maze that is the legalization process in this proposal.

WGXC Newsroom · Governor unveils the Women’s Equality Act

thomasmasterson — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 13:36:33 -0400

WGXC Newsroom · Governor unveils the Women’s Equality Act:

Lots in this act. More later.

WGXC Newsroom · Catskill receives grant to plan for climate change

thomasmasterson — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 13:31:14 -0400

WGXC Newsroom · Catskill receives grant to plan for climate change:

Apparently nobody has told the Hudson River (a tidal estuary) that climate change is a hoax.

WGXC Newsroom · Tkaczyk proposes dairy farmer support bill

thomasmasterson — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 13:30:05 -0400

WGXC Newsroom · Tkaczyk proposes dairy farmer support bill

Fiscal Conservatives | The Inverse Square Blog

thomasmasterson — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 13:29:09 -0400

Fiscal Conservatives | The Inverse Square Blog:

In which we learn that those states that are refusing to expand Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act (which they would receive Federal aid for) in the name of fiscal prudence are going to end up spending more money because of it. What do you know!? I would be experiencing Schadenfreude, except that this will cause the needless suffering and death of poor people in those states, and cost the ~~demagogues~~ politicians responsible nothing.

Europe to demand structural reform over austerity | Business | The Guardian

thomasmasterson — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 23:00:09 -0400

Europe to demand structural reform over austerity | Business | The Guardian:

Translation: we can’t cut wages anymore, so now we’ll have to make it easier to lay people off. It’s just fail all the way down with these people. When they talk about ‘us’ having to suffer pain, they never seem to include themselves in the ‘us.’

Nancy Folbre: Let Them Make Their Own Jobs - NYTimes.com

thomasmasterson — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 22:54:51 -0400

Nancy Folbre: Let Them Make Their Own Jobs - NYTimes.com:

It’s hard out there for young college grads. Imagine how hard it is for everyone else.

Another Whopping Failure For The School "Reform" Movement - Esquire

thomasmasterson — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 16:50:24 -0400

Another Whopping Failure For The School "Reform" Movement - Esquire:

I am SHOCKED! SHOCKED!

Rising Hegemon : The GOP, making the tent ever smaller

thomasmasterson — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 16:49:39 -0400

Rising Hegemon : The GOP, making the tent ever smaller:

Woo-hoo! Why would women want equal pay for the same work after all?