My KPCC Radio Interview on Climatopolis with Molly Peterson
Are there other professors who wish they could be paid per spoken word? If I could get my price above zero, I'd earn a few bucks for this KPCC Interview. Molly Peterson is a kind interviewer and I had a lot of fun.
Some Links for Today
I believe that my new publication in the Journal of Housing Economics will generate so many cites that Ted Bergstrom will owe Elsevier an apology.
What Do Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones and Greg Mankiw Have in Common?
They both have a PHD from MIT in economics, and they share a belief that the tax code matters in determining our choices. For evidence about Keith's views about the distortionary effects of the tax code click here.
To quote Dr.
A Violation of the Law of One Price?
The Universe of University of Toronto Faculty Salaries in 2010 . I see some variation in salaries within well defined occupational categories that I cannot explain using the observables I know about.
Can Technology Solve Political Problems?
Recently, there was a LA Times article discussing using technology to slow immigration into the United States.
Can an Economist Predict the Future? If We Can, So What?
Are the impacts of climate change more predictable than future stock price dynamics? I think so. Here is my New interview with The Futurist.
Do Economists Supply Interesting Interviews?
I was not ready for these questions.
How Do We Judge the Quality of University Presidents?
This article got me thinking about how we use quantitative metrics for judging University Leaders. The endowment's dynamics matter but do you attribute all of its growth to "the leader"? I don't.
Can an Economist Float Like a Butterfly and Sting Like a Bee? My Zocalo Square Speech About Climatopolis Rocks LA
In my humble opinion, I finally gave a really good talk about Climatopolis at the Zocalo Square to a group of about 120 Los Angeles residents at the Actor's Gang in Culver City. I didn't have powerpoint and it was funny to stand at a podium. I was armed with one page of notes and a copy of my book.
Can the Harvard Class of 2011 "See" Their Future Using a Sample of Harvard's Class of 1975?
In a stationary economy, young people can "see" their future based on what has happened to previous cohorts who are now middle aged.
UCLA Institute of the Environmental Faculty Write About Prop 23 and AB32
Have you ever written a good paper and wondered whether you should send it to the American Economic Review or the UCLA Daily Bruin Newspaper? I have published in both outlets but the choice is an easy one.
My 10/26/2010 Talk in Los Angeles' Culver City
Given that I plan to retire from academia on July 1st 2011, you are running out of chances to hear me talk. I will be speaking at the Zocalo Public Square Event this tuesday in Culver City and I hope to meet you there.
A Walk in West Los Angeles Reveals Some Neighbors Who Oppose AB32
My son had a playdate at a friend's house in Rancho Park. As I walked from Rancho Park back to Westwood, I saw the house whose picture I display below. This is a typical home in West LA but note the sign on the front lawn; " Yes on 23: Save Jobs".
The Los Angeles Times Reviews Climatopolis
Emily Green has written a review of Climatopolis in this LA Times Review. Similar to many of the non-economists who have reviewed Climatopolis, she devotes a little bit too much time to the "specificity" of my brief discussion of certain cities.
The Great AB32 Debate
Last night, the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability sponsored a fascinating debate on California's AB32. Click on this link and you can watch the video!
Switching subjects, if you want to see one side of Los Angeles at work then take a look at the story of Aaron Tonken.
Some Self Serving Links
Frank Wolak's Stanford Climate Conference from 9/7/2010 --- if you want to hear some bad jokes and hear my thoughts about climate change adaptation, please watch my video.
The Tea Party's Distaste for "Green" Tea
Under what scenarios would the Republican Party have embraced carbon mitigation legislation? The Tea Party is angry about the recession, the budget deficit, and be lectured for being "bad people".
Do You Have 3:54 minutes to Think About California's AB32 Carbon Mitigation Regulation?
Maybe I should stick to radio. In this TV Video, I look wacky but I think I make some good points focused on why I support AB32 and oppose Prop 23. Maybe Hollywood is never going to call me to play an economist. Ben Stein has a monopoly.
A Face for Radio
I will be a guest on the John Batchelor Radio Show at 7pm eastern time tonight to discuss my climate change adaptation book (Climatopolis).
On thursday at 4pm Los Angeles time, I will do a Beijing radio nterview on China Radio International.
Is Running an Escort Service a Necessary and Sufficient Private Sector Experience for Being an Effective Governor?
A quote from the dignified NY Times, "And Ms. (Kristin) Davis suggested that her experience running an escort service made her the candidate best prepared to reform the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. “The key difference between the M.T.A.
The Kennedy vs. Nixon Debate Revisited
Now that I'm starting to look like Walter Cronkite, it makes sense for me to be a panelist in this AB 32 Debate this thursday night at UCLA's Anderson School. While I only have 7 minutes to speak, everyone who knows me --- knows that I will get my money's worth.
Insurance Price Dynamics and Climate Change Adaptation
In Climatopolis, I present a microeconomist's vision of how our cities will adapt in the face of climate change. I argue that a Homer Simpson does not have to have perfect foresight if for profit firms such as insurance companies send him price signals.
Stumbling on Happiness: The Case of the Chilean Miners
The media is reporting news that the rescued Chilean miners are moving on and getting ready to return to their modest homes as the next phase of their life unfolds. As I read this I thought about Dennis Gilbert's Happy Thoughts. Recall that he has written the big book on happy dynamics.
When the Media Mocks Economists, Does it Hurt?
The Fed is debating the merits of new actions to "jump start" our macro economy. "But generally speaking, economists who thought it was a good idea at the time think it worked, and economists who thought otherwise beg to differ. And both sides make their cases with plenty of hard numbers.
UCLA's Don Shoup is on the Front Page of the LA Times!
In California newspapers, you usually see such names as "Arnold" or "Kobe" or "Meg" on the front page. But, today I see Shoup! It is a rare day when a micro economist makes the front page. The older generation tend to be men without much hair or glamour and we tend not to be newsworthy.
What is the Elasticity of Demand for Attending Elite Public Universities?
Elite public universities in England and California are about to run the same "natural" experiment. As government subsidies for public education are phased out, tuition will rise.
One Perk from Working at UCLA
The Lakers' General Manager Mitch Kupchak is a graduate of the Anderson School. Today, he was back on campus to talk to the Anderson Alumni. I snuck in and listed to 1/2 of his talk. He revealed that very few people actually work for the Lakers. It is a family firm.
Adapting to Climate Change in Syria
Water is becoming more scarce in Syria and this is affecting agriculture productivity. This raises several questions about how Syrians will adapt in the face of climate change.
How Will California Small Business Be Affected by AB32? New Evidence from the Brattle Group
Jurgen Weiss and Mark Sarro of the Brattle Group have just released New Research investigating how California's nascent efforts at reducing its greenhouse gas emissions (AB32) will affect small business. They have produced an excellent case study.
The Game Plan for Keeping the University of California Great
Here is the recently released master plan for keeping the University of California great. The short version is posted here.
Permit me to offer my alternative plan for keeping the University of California great.
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A Fair Review of Climatopolis Courtesy of Canada
The Gallon Env Letter is the environmental summary for Canadian environment sector. Here is their review of my new book. It is much fairer review than the crazy review that was written in the Toronto Star a week or two ago.
Exceeding Expectations
This article about the Chilean miner rescue has a revealing quote.
My Upcoming Public Speaking in Los Angeles
Is Los Angeles a nerdy town? Somehow, it seems that Economics Profs rank below the Lakers and Hollywood types in terms of status in this town. Over the next couple of weeks, I will have my "15 minutes" in several different settings.
What Does a $150 Million Dollar Home Look Like?
This expensive home in Little Holmby is on sale and it has 27 bathrooms. Think of the possibilities! You would be my neighbor (we live a 1/2 mile away) but the monthly mortgage payments would be pretty high.