16 | August | 2012

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Here’s one more reason why Duke economist Mike Munger was correct when he wrote several years ago that “of all the idiotic things that people believe, the whole ‘peak oil’ thing has to be right up there.” Thanks to new, … read more >

Carpe Diem

Markets in everything: Mobile DNA testing

Mark J. Perry | August 16, 2012, 6:06 pm

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — “It is a sign of the times — getting a quick DNA test is now as easy as walking up to a truck. The “Who’s Your Daddy” recreational vehicle is selling DNA tests for $300-600, mostly … read more >

Carpe Diem

Oregon hairbraider vs. the state’s cosmetology cartel

Mark J. Perry | August 16, 2012, 5:28 pm

The Oregonian featured this article recently “Braiding African American hair at center of overregulation battle in Oregon,” about occupational licensing in general, but with a special focus on hairbraiding in Oregon. To perform hairbraiding in Oregon, even for free, currently … read more >

Society and Culture, Education

Recalling Bobby Jindal

Michael McShane | August 16, 2012, 4:44 pm

In attempting to recall Governor Jindal, the Louisiana teachers’ unions are shifting their efforts to a more appropriate venue. read more >

Pethokoukis

2 new charts that show that terrible weakness of the U.S. economic recovery

James Pethokoukis | August 16, 2012, 3:02 pm

A new report from the Council on Foreign Relations has some great facts and some great charts show just how terrible this current U.S. economic recovery has been on a historical basis (H/T to Business Insider). 1. Real GDP is … read more >

Economics, Energy and the Environment

Where’s the wind when you need it?

Kenneth P. Green | August 16, 2012, 2:34 pm

Besides being expensive and intermittent, and besides having little or no environmental benefit, we can now add another strike against wind- and solar-power: They’re not there when you need them the most. read more >

Pethokoukis

Why Obama can’t blame either the financial crisis or the housing bust for the weak recovery

James Pethokoukis | August 16, 2012, 2:20 pm

The latest Obama campaign meme is that Americans need to be more patient with the slow economic recovery, that “this was not your normal recession. Throughout history, it has typically taken countries up to 10 years to recover from financial … read more >

Society and Culture

Tribute to Johnny Munkhammar

Henry Olsen | August 16, 2012, 2:05 pm

AEI mourns the loss of Visiting Scholar Johnny Munkhammar this week. read more >

Pethokoukis

Is the White House really attacking the Ryan plan for not balancing the budget fast enough?

James Pethokoukis | August 16, 2012, 12:45 pm

No, no, no, he didn’t. Please tell me White House spokesman Jay Carney didn’t attack Paul Ryan’s Path to Prosperity budget today for not balancing the budget fast enough, as White House reporter for Roll Call Steven Dennis tweeted.

Economics, Financial Services

Banter #67: Home appraisals and the real estate bubble

Stuart James | August 16, 2012, 12:01 pm

In this week’s episode of Banter, we sit down with AEI Scholar Stephen Oliner to discuss the role of home appraisals within the greater economy. Stephen, fresh off a two day conference discussing the issue, explains to us how important they … read more >