econometrics

Venezuela Is So Fucked

Hamilton Nolan · 02/03/16 01:00PM

Our nation has problems, and your nation has problems, but be thankful you don’t live in Venezuela, which is truly one of the most fucked places on earth.

Government Redistribution of Wealth Works Great

Hamilton Nolan · 10/23/15 10:45AM

Amid all of the loud political arguments about taxes, inequality, and the size of government, it is important to keep in mind this overarching fact: having our government push wealth from the rich to the poor is a very good idea.

Boycott Uber If You Don't Like It

Hamilton Nolan · 01/08/14 12:59PM

Uber is a luxury car service that sells increased convenience for a high price. It may be seen as a symptom of a wealthy lifestyle which rubs many people the wrong way. So what should you do if you don't like Uber? You should not use Uber.

Five Ideas For the Next Century of Taxes

Hamilton Nolan · 10/02/13 12:52PM

Tomorrow is the 100th anniversary of the federal income tax. Thank you, federal income tax, for all the things you have bought this country, except the wars! On this auspicious anniversary, here are five tax ideas to make the next 100 years even better.

Just FYI, One of the World's Smartest Money Men Says a Crash Worse Than 2008 Is Coming

Hamilton Nolan · 03/01/13 11:05AM

Stanley Druckenmiller is a legendary hedge fund manager, former partner of George Soros, and billionaire investor. He is one of the more levelheaded and reasonable of the hedge fund gods. He's made billions of dollars by reading the world economy correctly for several decades. So it's worth at least passing on the fact that he is convinced that a new financial crash is looming for America. Worse than the last one!

Investing Is Simple, Don't Tell The Rich

Hamilton Nolan · 10/12/12 03:06PM

One thing you can do on Friday, at the end of the day, when you have a couple free minutes, is to pick up the phone fire all of your "financial adviser" and "investment consultants" and anyone else who takes money from you in exchange for recommending investments to you. Then just buy some low-cost index funds in a mix of stock and bonds, and then go to bed, because that is what smart people who don't like getting hustled do.

Unemployed Americans Nobly Take it Upon Themselves to Not Starve

Hamilton Nolan · 05/30/12 10:54AM

"What is going on with the economy these days?" you ask yourself as you sit on the bench in the park where you go every day after you tell your wife you're "going to work." I'm glad that you asked, brother. If you sort of squint and turn things sideways ever so slightly, it is possible to interpret recent economic trends in a positive way.

Major Crisis: 23-Year-Old College Grads Are Working Shitty Jobs

Hamilton Nolan · 04/23/12 01:45PM

The recent near-total collapse of the global economy has had some real negative effects. Life savings wiped out; retirements ruined; people evicted from their homes. The fact that 23-year-olds are working at Starbucks even after they've earned their English diplomas? Not at the top of the list.

From Now On, If You Lose Your Job You Can't Blame the Recession

Hamilton Nolan · 03/15/12 10:42AM

Even before all of Wall Street collapsed in September of 2008, bringing the national and global economy down with it, there was unemployment. Unemployment has always been a feature of this world. But since the whole "collapse of the economy" thing, it's been clear that if you lost your job, it was probably due to the nefarious work of economic villains far outside of your control. Not any more, though!

The Consumer Is Finished

Hamilton Nolan · 10/04/11 09:29AM

Today, global stocks sit at their lowest point in 15 months. In Europe, the markets are "in meltdown," as traders flee in fear of a Greek default that would devastate the continent's financial stability. The world's economy is stuck in a race car with a brick on the accelerator chugging full speed towards a ramp overhanging the tempting lip of the double dip recession. I think we can make it! Faster, faster, whee!

Do Not Sell Your Stocks

Hamilton Nolan · 08/08/11 11:01AM

It's only noon, and already the Dow has dropped by 325 241 336 points. Terror. Panic. Uncertainty. Fear. Should you dump all of your stocks and stash the cash while you still can? No. No. No!