Saturday, February 28, 2009

The stand-up economist

Yoram Bauman translating Mankiw's 10 principles of economics here

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Paul Krugman on the World Economy

This is the Paul Krugman January 29 speech that I mentioned in class. We'll try to watch it in class but, to be on the safe side, here it is.

Mind you the site fora.tv is excellent and a tremendous resource to bookmark.

Negative externalities, pollution and Pigovian taxes

I found a 2007 article by Greg Mankiw on Pigovian taxes which may prove useful in evaluating solutions to negative production externalities. May (and November) exams (HL and SL P1) often include questions on such issues. You will find it here.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Friends...(not 'Friends')


This was sent to me by my dear friend and classmate at school Sokratis K. and it does have a relationship with IB Economics and what we do in class as well as with what we all too often witness in Greek society.

Try to think what 'friends' really means in this context, what are these 'friendships' based on, what is implied about the institutional framework of a society, what is the connection with corruption and what are the short run and long run implications (say, for your kids...)

click on it to enlarge

Saturday, February 7, 2009

From the New Yorker..


Once again, no relationship with IB Economics!

Just found it in the latest New Yorker online issue and found it pretty hilarious in its absurdity - thought to share it with you..

Friday, February 6, 2009

Fiscal stimulus: US vs. Japan

The Herald Tribune has today an interesting article on whether expansionary fiscal policy through increased government spending is or is not effective to pull an economy out of a severe recession (and, deflation).

The title is "Japan's big-works stimulus is lesson for U.S."

Easy reading that will help you with your background in long essays or data response questions on the effectiveness of demand side policies.