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Category Archives: Economics
Can you get something for nothing?
There is no question that higher education in 2020 is facing serious problems. The proximate cause is the current Pandemic recession, which will lead to significant cutbacks in state support for public colleges & universities, and also serious decreases in … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Uncategorized
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Does poor nutrition cause the swine flu? (No)
I’m writing in response to Laura’s post here on a piece by Thomas Friedman. Friedman’s piece reminds me of why I could never be a regular, on-a-schedule, blogger. Because if I don’t have anything to say, I’d have to write … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Teaching and Learning
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Teaching as Modeling Disciplinary Practice
Over the Christmas holidays last winter, as I began to plan for my Spring courses, it struck me that it was a truly fascinating time to study macroeconomics and finance. Yes, I realize this is much like the neurosurgeon remarking … Continue reading
Learning as Work vs. Play
A curious thing happened last Friday in my intro class. We have been studying the theory of the Firm and one of the themes I emphasis (which gets short shrift in the textbooks) is that successful firms are profitable precisely … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Teaching and Learning
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Insights on Fanny & Freddie
This post interests me on several levels: the connected nature of media today; contemporary economic issues, specifically the difficulties being faced by Fanny Mae & Freddie Mac due to the mortgage market meltdown; and the issue of the market system … Continue reading
Is Economics Like Physics?
This is the question that a group of my colleagues, led by Mark Maier of Glenwood Community College (in California) and Scott Simpkins of North Carolina A&T University, have been exploring for the last three years. It is generally known … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Teaching and Learning
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New Frontier in Economics
One of the new frontiers in economics is Behavioral Economics, for which Daniel Kahneman and Vernon Smith won the Nobel Prize in 2002. Here’s a thoughtful and funny video which describes behavioral economics in contrast to the more traditional neoclassical … Continue reading
Posted in Economics
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Chicken Little?
This post originated in a series of conversations I had over the holiday with my in-laws who were children of the Great Depression. But it’s also something I’ve thought about for a long time. The catalyst for posting probably came … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, First Year Seminar
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A Purer Version of Just-in-Time Teaching
Yesterday I set my alarm a little early to have enough time first thing in the morning to collect and sort the questions for Chapter 6. This was the first chapter that was beyond introductory material, so I wanted to … Continue reading
Posted in BigWiki, Economics, Teaching and Learning
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Be Careful What You Ask For
The dynamics of my macroeconomics course are quite different than in past years. I’ve alluded to this in previous posts. For one thing, I’m reading the text just slightly ahead of the students. I’m doing it that way to try … Continue reading
Posted in BigWiki, Economics, Teaching and Learning
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