Blog Title: CoreEcon

Lego arbitrage

Is there an arbitrage opportunity in the market for Lego parts? From GeekDad: A few weeks ago, I picked up an Imperial Dropship set to stow away in the gift closet (handy to have for for short notice kids’ birthday parties and to build up a stockpile for our own birthdays, Christmas, etc…).  It was roughly read more..

How exactly did Keynes survive?

What is clear is that when it came to the crunch, as policy-makers searched for ways to save the financial world, the tools they used were stock-standard traditional Keynes. In many respects, it was as if the frontier of macroeconomics had not changed from the Neoclassical synthesis of the 1950s. The pump is being primed read more..

Fonts and phones

I have waxed lyrical about the importance of font choice on this blog. One of the things that struck me about the iPhone was the beauty of the numerical typeface. It is, of course, Helvetica. But everytime you type a number, you can appreciate it’s clarity. It is a joy to use. (And no that read more..

End of year baby bonus rush

The Sydney Morning Herald has an article today that quotes me on what might happen when the means test for the baby bonus comes in at the beginning of next year. He said a similar phenomenon could be expected up to the end of the year. “The good news is that it won’t affect too many families. “The read more..

Blogging and piracy

For some reason, this new paper on blogging by Gaudel, Mathieu and Peroni was associated in my mind with this article in Slate on movie uploader, aXXo. The blogging paper concerns the economics of reciprocal attention. The hypothesis is that the reason people blog is to have their ideas read but that this comes with a read more..

Loo Dues

The newspapers are reporting on a scheme to save water by installing meters on toilets and having households pay by the flush. Well actually not quite that. They want people to pay for their water on the basis of outflows. The question is: how much will this really differ from the current scheme — that already read more..

Big Bang Theory

One the best sitcoms in recent years, The Big Bang Theory is back this week on Channel 9 at 8pm Wednesday. I cannot recommend it more highly.

Broadband in the Age (Day 5)

This article marks the final part in my five part series, “Better know a broadband debate.” Today’s instalment, “a new hope” in which I discuss things other than broadband ‘pipes.’ Behind every great fibre-optic network is a great package of applications Joshua Gans, The Age, 14th November, 2008. OVER the past week, I have been reviewing the broadband read more..

Surplus vs deficit

Thinking about this exchange. What is the difference between a $1 surplus and a $1 deficit? Answer $2. What is the difference between a $4 surplus and a $2 surplus? Answer $2. Multiply by $10 billion and enjoy. And the point: it is change in fiscal position that matters, not the description of where it ends up.

Broadband in The Age (Day 4)

In which I explore the hopes for competition. Basically, the choice is up to the government: competition or the money. All past governments have chosen the money and we have paid for it. Tomorrow: some other broadband policies other than infrastructure that would make a big difference. Government has missed the message on telcos Joshua Gans, The read more..