Value Formation

I have never included a blog roll, never intent upon Anyone reaching anywhere from my articulation, though feeling somewhat guilty because Readers always desire a Second Opinion on most everything I write. Here is another of those Lists on which I am never named; included because Steve Waldman provides a crafted commentary on his personal enjoyment. I will not even present links as I evaluate his fare, being antisocial and resentful of the widespread attention which good bloggers receive. Brad Setser is good, but invariably too committed to minutiae–Some would assert such merits academic acclaim. You can find anything acceptable to read with Mark Thoma, like you can find links to these blogs in the Waldman piece. Felix Salmon is also excellent, even though he will not let me read him without a rss feed. Calculated Risk, Tanta, and Yves Smith are all Good, but often deviate from straight economic theory–Some people are so gross as to define this as Research. I enjoy Dean Baker, who like myself, is mad at the World, and just won’t take it anymore (forgot that the Kids probably never saw Network). There are People who actually think Finance is an Economics topic; if you want to go there, then you deserve the confusion you will feel. We finally arrive at Bloggers I would appreciate I can relate with, especially James Hamilton and Menzie Chinn, Tyler Cowen and Alex Tabarrok, Dani Rodrik, William Polley, Paul Krugman, Greg Mankiw, and knzn. The rest are probably equally Good, but I am fazed by big Words.

I agree readily with Greg Mankiw on this exposure of the Democratic Candidates’ positions on Energy. Any form of Carbon taxation will come down on the Consumer, as Utilities practice the Corporate Two-Step. The Readership of this blog should realize that Taxation is not part of the Evil Empire, and something around here must pay for itself. The tricky part of the Energy debate lies in the fact that the less apparent the Carbon taxation, the less effective will be that taxation. Carbon Credits provide not only plausible denial to the question of Carbon taxation, but allowed Utilities to increase Profits through gouging the Consumers; I expect Energy Costs to the Consumer to be about 17% higher in total cost with any form of Cap-n-Trade system, than it would be under outright Carbon taxation.

Mark Thoma may have missed the importance of the Zachary article, when he concentrates upon the substitution of Aid-Providers. The real impact may be the introduction of new technology, specifically geared to developing economies. The real dilemma may be that the Chinese should keep their Aid teams at home, to cancel the overreach of old-style technology in Energy production in their own economy. India cannot seem to alleviate the horrors of their own Poor, possibly attempting Model experiments far from native political resentment. One should never put down any Initiative without serious study of potential consequences, but there is something truly wrong with this experience. lgl