Having a college degree delivers relative economic advantages. In most cases, job applicants with college degrees will receive more consideration and priority than those without them. Consequently, college degree holders capture more of the limited stock of good jobs than their non-degreed peers, and therefore receive higher compensation. Problematically, many individuals — upon observing that… Continue reading College is not the solution
Another interesting GOP class divide
Pew is out with an opinion survey about Medicare. Among others things, Pew asked people whether deficit reduction or preserving Medicare and Social Security benefits should have the higher priority. Republicans answer that question very differently depending on their income level: Only Republicans making over $75k per year think deficit reduction should have the higher… Continue reading Another interesting GOP class divide
The left and the “younger generation”
I find left discussions about the younger generation obnoxious for two main reasons. First, generations are diverse and lack unified or coherent interests. As such, you can’t ever really speak of a generation being harmed, only specific elements within a generation being harmed. The opposite is true as well: you can’t speak about a generation… Continue reading The left and the “younger generation”
On Paul Ryan’s vice presidential candidacy
Mitt Romney picked Paul Ryan for his vice president. The office of the vice president is almost entirely irrelevant; so it’s not clear why this really matters. Paul Ryan’s most notable “achievement” is his proposed budget. The budget is an absolute train wreck that doubtlessly owes its provenance to Ryan’s comical affection for Ayn Rand.… Continue reading On Paul Ryan’s vice presidential candidacy
Countering the right-wing arguments about investment
Most right-wing economic policy arguments are really bad. The idea, for instance, that regulatory burdens and uncertainty are responsible for the bad economy — instead of the housing crisis, financial crisis, and debt overhang — is on its face absurd. But if you dig past the talking points far enough, you can actually find some… Continue reading Countering the right-wing arguments about investment