John Cleese on Stupidity
27 Feb 2015 Leave a comment
in behavioural economics, economics of education, economics of information, economics of media and culture, health economics, human capital Tags: Dunning-Kruger effect
Elvis Presley’s greatest hit (was against polio)
26 Feb 2015 1 Comment
in economics of information, economics of media and culture, health economics Tags: anti-vaccination movement, Elvis Presley, polio, vaccinations
How the Chinese Zodiac Affects National Birth Rates
25 Feb 2015 1 Comment
in applied price theory, economic history, economics of media and culture Tags: China, superstition
Choosing to be offended – Pat Condell
21 Feb 2015 Leave a comment
in economics of media and culture, economics of religion, liberalism Tags: Pat Condell, political correctness
George Stigler and that peculiar requirement to dumb down economics for politicians and the public
20 Feb 2015 Leave a comment
Creative destruction versus the Guardian: A £2-a-month levy on broadband could save our newspapers
20 Feb 2015 Leave a comment
in economics of media and culture, entrepreneurship, rentseeking, survivor principle Tags: legacy media, The Guardian
A small levy on UK broadband providers – no more than £2 a month on each subscriber’s bill – could be distributed to news providers in proportion to their UK online readership. This would solve the financial problems of quality newspapers, whose readers are not disappearing, but simply migrating online.
via A £2-a-month levy on broadband could save our newspapers | Media | The Guardian.
Did The Guardian just come out in support of a poll tax? Most people have broadband, so it’s the same practical effect?
Hold our beers while we catch a fish
19 Feb 2015 Leave a comment
The dangers of texting while driving
19 Feb 2015 Leave a comment
in economics of media and culture, transport economics
HT: Tomáš Kříha
Words used in Chinese books illuminate how a nation’s values changed during economic reforms | UCLA
19 Feb 2015 Leave a comment
in Austrian economics, development economics, economic history, economics of media and culture, growth miracles, industrial organisation Tags: China, transitional economies
Use of the word “communal” rose sharply during the Cultural Revolution, especially from 1970 to 1976; it decreased during the 1980s. (China launched economic reforms in 1978, and they continue to this day.)
The word “autonomy” was used just one-third as frequently as “obedience” in 1970. In 2008, the ratio had flipped and “autonomy” appeared three times as much as “obedience.”
The increase in use of words like “choose,” “compete,” “private,” “autonomy” and “innovation” demonstrated a growing prevalence of individualistic values coinciding with sharp rises in urban population, household consumption and education levels.
Words reflecting communal values, such as “help” and “sacrifice,” declined in frequency.
via Words used in Chinese books illuminate how a nation’s values changed during economic reforms | UCLA.
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