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Monthly Archives: February 2012
Downsize me: how to reduce calorie consumption
One of the policies that has been mooted in the fight against obesity is calorie labeling where foods or beverages packaging contains information about its calorie content & possibly other relevant information. I had seen some evidence (here) which suggested … Continue reading
Posted in Health
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Upper class twits are exactly what your prejudice leads you to believe
Loyal reader, you are a decent person, you don’t cheat, lie, cut up other drivers, you don’t thoughtlessly inconvenience your next-door neighbours, you pay (most of) your taxes, and generally stop at pedestrian crossings. In addition you don’t pull the … Continue reading
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The new science of Astronomics
As further proof that economics is useful, some economics students have calculated the cost of building a Death Star. It’s not cheap it has to be said, but probably better value than some of the investments that governments have pursued … Continue reading
Posted in Humour
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What is the point of GDP?
There has been a lot of discussion recently about developing alternative aggregate measures of economic performance given the limitations of GDP or GNP. The Stiglitz, Sen and Fitoussi Commission is a good example. The paper below explores why, despite the … Continue reading
Posted in Policy, research
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Would an economist lie to you?
Economists get a bad press and are accused of lots of things: we can’t agree on anything, we’re a right wing conspiracy, we ruined the economy, we’re irrelevant and so on. Sundry commentators come out with some awful guff about … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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Sugar sugar: the effect of a tax on sugar-sweetened drinks on weight loss
There was a flurry of interest in “fat taxes” a little while ago following on from some comments by a government minister about introducing such a tax. This recently published paper does the hard work of estimating what the effect … Continue reading
Posted in Health
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Do teachers make better parents? How teachers’ children do better at school
My doctor used to have pictures of his kids on his surgery wall and it occurred to me, during a consultation, that they must be very healthy. Well that is what you would expect I think? One would expect them … Continue reading
Posted in Education, research
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14 ways an economist says “I love you”
Proof that economists’ sense of humour is as strong as their sense of romance.
Posted in Humour
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On the fundamental theorem of journalism
I like journalists. Some of my best friends are journalists. I have worked happily with a lot of journalists. But some I would like to shoot. What irritates me is their perhaps rather banal addiction to clichés and tiresome puns. … Continue reading
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