Trickle-Down

Continuing his examination of archaic economic models, Professor John Quiggin looks at problems associated with the trickle-down theory. OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS, I’ve been looking at zombie ideas in economics. These are ideas that should have been killed by the evidence against them that has accumulated since the beginning…

The Covid-19 pandemic and the nationwide lockdown since March 25 has brought to centre-stage the age-old frailties of our country that successive governments have failed to address.In recent decades, we have been obsessed with economic growth and the so-called ‘trickle-down theory’. Benefits of economic growth following policies of liberalisation, globalisation…

In 1992, Ross Perot famously stated that NAFTA would cause a "giant sucking sound" as jobs and industries fled the U.S. for Mexico.  For years, progressive Vermont's bloated bureaucracy has increased regulations, social programs, and income and real estate taxes in the fantasy that the rich can just be taxed more…

On the latest episode of the "Pitchfork Economics" podcast, Nick Hanauer and David Goldstein interviewed Ronald Klain, who served as the leader of the Obama administration's response team during the 2014 Ebola epidemic.Klain said President Donald Trump's response measures sabotaged our ability to manage the coronavirus pandemic, largely because his…

Associated PressPresident Donald Trump’s anti-government sentiment hindered a proper COVID-19 response. On the latest episode of the “Pitchfork Economics” podcast, Nick Hanauer and David Goldstein interviewed Ronald Klain, who served as the leader of the Obama administration’s response team during the 2014 Ebola epidemic. Klain said President Donald Trump’s response…

Facing the Covid-19 pandemic, the US Congress rammed through the CARES Act — which economist Michael Hudson explains is not a “bailout” but a massive, $6 trillion giveaway to Wall Street, banks, large corporations, and stockholders. Max Blumenthal and Ben Norton discuss the enormous financial scam with Hudson, who reveals…

Yves here. I hope those of you who are podcast fans will add Moderate Rebels to your “must listen” list. If you don’t know their show already, get acquainted with this talk with Michael Hudson. From the Moderate Rebels podcast of April 21 Facing the Covid-19 pandemic, the US Congress…

In less than eight weeks, Covid-19 has re-ordered virtually every industry in the world. But few more rapidly than real estate and development. Now that hundreds of millions of people have gotten a new taste of how important “home” actually is—as a safe haven, a de facto schoolhouse, an impromptu…

Humans are always going to die. The fact that we have a finite amount of time to live and no hope at the end of it makes our lives even happier. Malthus's view of people can be summed up in a nutshell. Today, Malthus, who is famous for the name…

By Don TapscottContributing ColumnistSat., April 4, 2020timer7 min. readTo do our part to “flatten the curve,” many of us have made dramatic changes to our everyday lives. While there are lots of unknowns, I wonder whether any of these changes will persist — will we cocoon ourselves within our immediate…