Outside the Beltway

Our psychological and cultural biases make evaluating information and arguments rationally next to impossible.

How far should the press go in challenging assertions by politicians?

Paul Krugman’s latest column, “Depression and Democracy,” is simply bizarre.

Did Congress cause the mortgage crisis by mandating loans to poor people? No.

Social Security outlays are exceeding its income. Is that really a problem?

With the advantage of hindsight, it’s clear that more creative strategies were needed. But they probably couldn’t have been passed.

Elizabeth Warren has a deeply flawed view of our social contract.

Paul Krugman seems to believe that something like the bubble economy we enjoyed until it burst in 2008 could be had again if only our leaders were sufficiently bold.

Contrary to what Eugene Robinson and Paul Krugman argue today, compassion does not require one to support government social welfare programs.

Accusing someone of “politicizing” a discussion of 9/11 is like accusing someone of “athleticizing” a discussion of football.

Paul Krugman chose to mark the the 10th anniversary of September 11th with an odd blog post.

What’s behind the lack of business investment?

It never ceases to amaze me how many smart people manage to believe, against all evidence to the contrary, that their political philosophy has massive support.

Did World War II teach us anything about spending-as-stimulus? Not really.

Repeating the “destruction creates wealth” fallacy every time there’s a natural disaster doesn’t make it any less of a fallacy.

Either a bunch of bloggers or one of the world’s smartest economists doesn’t understand economics.

More on Texas and jobs.

According to Paul Krugman, what the American economy needs is for a bunch of space aliens to invade us.

Taking an initial look into the Texas economy.

Upon further review, S&P’s downgrade of the United States bond rating . . . still makes no sense.

While it’s hard to argue with S&P’s political analysis, its economic judgment is a head-scratcher.

Now that America’s political leadership have probably averted a self-inflicted global economic calamity, it’s time to assess the winners and losers.

While unemployment remains stubbornly high, Washington is spending its time fighting over the budget deficit

Paul Krugman thinks liberals understand conservatives but not vice versa. He’s half right.

More slow economic growth, the L-shaped recession.

A profile of George Mason economist and blogger Tyler Cowen offers this amusing description: “Cowen, 49, has round features, a hesitant posture, and an unconcerned haircut.”

Rand Paul has borrowed a bad idea from the 2008 Presidential campaign.

Ohio State researchers: ARRA created/saved approximately 450 thousand state and local government jobs and destroyed/forestalled roughly one million private sector jobs.

A study shows that most national columnists and talking heads are about as accurate as a coin flip.

Paul Krugman is disappointed with the President, but it’s really his own fault for being so naive.

Paul Ryan unveiled an ambitious plan to cut the deficit today. The question is whether it will be the beginning of a debate, or an opportunity for Democratic demagoguery

Philip Greenspun wonders, “How did the New York Times manage to spend $40 million on its pay wall?”

Paul Krugman admits that he doesn’t bother to read conservative commentary. Should he?

There is a problem with political rhetoric in this country, but telling people to be nicer to each other isn’t going to cool it down.

The tragic shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and 19 others in Arizona has started another debate about political rhetoric. It’s a stupid debate, and it’s utterly pointless.

Republican maneuvering to extend the Bush tax cuts for all Americans appears about to pay off.

Paul Krugman argues that recent economic crises demonstrate that America has failed at corporate governance, banking, and the rule of law.

New Jersey’s governor has killed a vital infrastructure project because of huge cost overruns. It’s penny wise and pound foolish.

Paul Krugman says there’s zero evidence for structural causes for unemployment. It’s just a demand problem. How do we spark demand, then?

There isn’t much doubt that China is manipulating its currency for competitive advantage. What can be done about it?

According to Paul Krugman’s latest column, the massive destruction of World War Two was actually good for the U.S. economy. Sadly, there are people who consider him an expert.

Paul Krugman’s Medicare projections don’t line up with what the actuaries are telling us.

While political junkies dissect every vote and utterance, most Americans vote based on their gut sense of how the economy is doing.

A lot stands in the way of returning to pre-collapse employment levels in the USA.