Scorp- 1) Which states with high union rates are doing badly and why? 2) Unionized labor is efficient, just more expensive to the individual employer (but cheaper to society). 3) The U.S. is ranked #11 in GDP/capita behind 9 Northern European states and Qatar. 4) If Merkel, Sarkozy, Berlusconi, or Harper were U.S. pols they would be considered socialists.
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oliver cromwell
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Another effect of increased productivity is increase unemployment. If 8 workers can suddenly produce what it used to take 10 workers to make, 2 workers will soon be unemployed. I don't have a link handy, but there have been numerous stories that increased productivity due to techonological advances has caused more lost jobs in the US than globalization and outsourcing. This is a two-edged sword, because the productivity of US workers (largely due to an excellent infrastructure, automation, and other tech advances) is one of the things that keeps higher paid US workers competitive with lower paid workers in developing states. …
Posted to Productivity: Is The Boom Over?
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The deal at the heart of the Doha Agenda was increased IP protection fro reduced agriculture protection. Industry in rich nations gets greater protection for their products and industry in developing nations supposedly gets more markets for its goods. (Even with increased IP protection TRIPS allows for derogations, e.g. if a country produces generic drugs solely for domestic consumption). One of the main reasons it failed was France's objection to reducing subsidies for its small farmers. The EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has to change in order for any renegotiation of worldwide ag policy, and France stalemated those talks. While gaining …
Posted to The Death of Doha
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Great interview! I guess isolating a leftist leader and preventing any positive PR about Venezuela in the States is more important than helping the most needy Americans get to work and pay their heating bills. They might start to expect their government to actually be concerned about their well being. There are those critical of Chavez who like to cliam that he is a dictator in waiting. Note the similarities between the steps that lead to that charge and Pres. Bush's actions in embracing a strong executive. Chavez--questionable independence of the judiciary Bush--want no judicial review of his actions and expects …
Posted to No Discounted Transit for Oil
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RE: Land Reform I am not aware of what the policy in Venezuela on land reform, except in so far as it is related to putting more land into production in order to decrease imports of things like soy. However, land reform (aka redistribution) has many legal roots, including Republicanism and Legal Realism. Under Republicanism, in a form especially favored by Thomas Jefferson, land is a finite resource that is at the heart of economic well being and as such no one has a right to own more than he can reasonably use. Land ownership is esential to citizenship and needs …
Posted to No Discounted Transit for Oil
- Joined January 14, 2006
- Last Visit July 28, 2008
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