Monday, October 21, 2019

Thinking about metrics comparing countries for both average living standards and equality of living standards.

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A healthy debate  is happening about whether the standard measure of national economic well-being--per capita GDP--is sufficient for that p...
Thursday, September 05, 2019

Mortgage Spreads are Rising (although maybe it's a blip).

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I check out mortgage rates at least once a week, because, well, it is my job to know what they are.  Recently, I have been expecting to s...
Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Robustness in Economics and Econometrics: Interview with William "Buz" B...

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This took me back (with pleasure) to my graduate school days.  I have been privileged to learn from many amazing people, but I think I le...
Monday, August 26, 2019

By world standards, the middle class in the US still does very well

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After reading Biyamen Applebaum's thought-provoking piece in the NYT today, I thought about how economists measure well-being, and how...
Sunday, August 11, 2019

The median male earner--the top line overstates progress

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Has the median man made progress economically since 1980?  Not really.  While male median income rose (in 2017 $) from $35,589 to $40,396, ...
Sunday, August 04, 2019

1984: Something happened to Rent CPI

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Using one of the world's most useful websites, FRED , I drew a graph of rent CPI and all CPI going back to the beginning of the series....
Friday, August 02, 2019

Should young people borrow to get their 401(k) match?

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I think the answer is yes.  Suppose you are a young person, early in your earnings years.    Your employer offers you a one to one 401(k) m...