Disqus - Latest Comments for Timothy

Re: Illusions of Risk

Timothy — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 12:44:22 -0000

I think loss aversion is pretty easily explained by a diminishing marginal utility of wealth.

Re: Wal-Mart Podcast

Timothy — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 06:24:55 -0000

I like podcasts, mainly because I can get interesting discussion on topics of interest without having to leave it up to chance and the random descisions of station managers.

Also, no commercials, and without the cost of satellite radio.

Re: Hugo and the Heart

Timothy — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 11:36:14 -0000

Isn't it illegal for states to negotiate international trade agreements? I suppose if it's not a treaty there's some wiggle room, but still. This is pathetic: bad for the citizens of Venezuela and a poor reflection on the character of US CongressCritters.

Re: No Laffing Matter

Timothy — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 04:38:13 -0000

It's Gini while we're going about correcting spellings of esoteric economic terms.

Re: Rather than Conscript, Why Not…..?

Timothy — Thu, 08 Dec 2005 09:27:57 -0000

I've never been in the military, but as far as I know from talking to military folks there is a clause that allows the term to be extended by the government under certain circumstances. If it's in the contract, and you don't read it, well, that's your look out.

That said, recruiters will promise a lot and often never deliver. Which is quite wrong.

Re: The Sausage Factory

Timothy — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 04:57:09 -0000

Each member traded basically a year's worth of casino compensation to ensure that they kept exclusive rights. Even of those rights last only another few years it was more than worth the investment, even with a reasonable discount rate.

And it's not like we're shocked government is for sale to the highest bidder: people respond to the incentives they have, government creates many perverse incentives. The individuals involved are still responsible for any violations of law or ethics, but it's hard to be surprised. One might say that with as large a central government as we have this sort of thing is inevitable.

Re: Immigration Economics

Timothy — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 14:02:02 -0000

So your argument is basically that the CPI-U-RS is wrong and is overestimating inflation.

This is a known problem with the CPI. It is also impossible to account for changes in quality using the CPI.

Re: Buying "American"

Timothy — Thu, 11 May 2006 08:59:35 -0000

Dudley and happyjuggler hit it on the head. The "Big Three" are simply using more hours to produce their cars. They're also creating an inferior product, by and large, which explains their falling market share and stagnating sales. Thusly, they're using more people to produce less value and are inefficiently using resources. Without all the protectionism from Congress they'd be run out of the market and rightly so.

Re: Inequality Kills

Timothy — Fri, 12 May 2006 08:14:43 -0000

JAMA: Because MDs know so much about economics!

Re: The Unseen Aspects of Fielding

Timothy — Tue, 16 May 2006 13:41:58 -0000

While I'm happy to see Adam Everett get a mention (GO ASTROS!), and while I do think Everett one of the most underrated defensive short-stops in the game...Jeter is in every way superior at the plate. Jeter's batting .333 versus Everett's .244, and Everett didn't hit so well in the World Series last year.

With as strong as the Yankee's offense usually is, and with Matsui in left, the Yankees can afford to have a mediocre guy at short.

Re: The Unseen Aspects of Fielding

Timothy — Tue, 16 May 2006 13:44:41 -0000

Jeter also has an OPB of .430 and an SLG of .511 versus Everett's .293 and .366, respectively.

Re: A Not-So-Timely Proposal

Timothy — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 12:29:06 -0000

Well according to your assumptions, You're looking at needing to save at least $4.89 per 75 miles driven to make the law worth it.

So, we're looking at 4.89=9-(75/35)*P where P is the price of gasoline. So:

4.89=9-2.14*P

0=9-4.89-2.14*P

0=4.11-2.14*P

-4.11=-2.14*P

1.92=P

Gas would have to fall to $1.92 (with a little rounding) per gallon to make the 55mph speed limit an indifferent deal for the average non-supervisory worker under your assumptions. To answer the question as it was phrased, the price of gasoline would need to fall $1.08 per gallon in order to make the average non-supervisory worker come out even (for it to be a good deal it would have to fall marginally more).

Re: Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite (and Mr. Smith, and Ms. Jones, and Mr. Williams, and…..)

Timothy — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 06:18:03 -0000

I submit that Trumpit needs to grow a sense of humor, maybe switch to decaff.

Also, remember, that Michael Jackson does (or at least did for a long period of time) own the rights to the Beatles' collection of songs, so a lot of the monetary compensation over the last few decades went to MJ rather than the actual band.

Re: Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite (and Mr. Smith, and Ms. Jones, and Mr. Williams, and…..)

Timothy — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 06:11:21 -0000

Bah, what would I need that for? Pesky thing would just get in the way.

Re: Nature's Embrace?

Timothy — Sun, 09 Jul 2006 21:30:34 -0000

Man, I sure wish we were in the pre-industrial age. I mean, a life-expectancy at birth of 38ish years sounds WONDEROUS!

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0005140.html

Re: Milton has passed away

Timothy — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 10:35:31 -0000

And the world is immeasurably poorer for it.

Re: No Euphemisms

Timothy — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 11:37:36 -0000

"Rich politicians trying to keep Haitians poor"

"US Government cares not about poverty among Hatians."

Re: Neologism

Timothy — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 07:08:03 -0000

I've always been fond of "mercantilist" or "neomercantilist" but that might be a little to obscure and also innocent sounding.