Another infrastructure project
Earlier we discussed the urban regeneration project. Now it appears that the project requires a bailout (ht Greg Mankiw):
A “mum” view on economists
In preparation for Mother’s Day on Sunday it is important to see what mum’s think about economics.
Over at www.postcardsfromyomomma.com we get to find out (ht Kids prefer cheese via Marginal Revolution)
Backstory: After I got a D on my economics exam.
Honey, econ is for boring and ugly people. You shouldn’t be in that class, you’re too pretty and creative. I’m sick of these hard classes. Next semester sign up for gym classes.
Boring? Ugly? Not creative? I don’t like where this mum is going …
France’s novel approach to the wage bargain: ‘boss-napping’
In the face of increasingly uncertain economic times, the latest trend in France is for workers unhappy with their company’s position on labour to boss-nap,. Boss-napping entails workers disappointed with redundancies or payouts taking their bosses hostage as a bargaining tool! Recent kidnappings have involved 3M France’s industrial director and Sony France’s CEO and HR director.
Unfortunately it seems that the tactic is working, with 3M France’s industrial director being released after signing a deal which offered more favourable treatment for the 110 employees who faced losing their jobs. I’m not sure of the validity of such a contract made under duress over there – I doubt it would stand up here – but hey, they do things differently in France.
Cycleway or Hydroslide?
One of the more interesting ideas to come out of the jobs summit is a cycleway across the whole country, I find this comment on the stuff article to be particularly insightful:)
If you’re looking for ideas with tourist potential, I think a hydroslide the length of NZ has much more potential than a boring old cycle-way… If I was a foreign tourist looking for a travel destination with a difference, I think hydroslide is a better seller than cycle-way.
Also, imagine going over Cook Strait in a hydroslide. You could get out and play with the dolphins. You wouldn’t be able to do that if you had a big metal bike with you.
Cartoon: Intergenerational Equity
A great illustration of intergenerational transfers in action:
Source(* Dilbert Cartoons)
The financial crisis explained in simple terms
This email was passed on to me by my office manager. It makes what happened seam absurd:)
Heidi is the proprietor of a bar in Berlin. In order to increase sales, she decides to allow her
loyal customers - most of whom are unemployed alcoholics - to drink now but pay later. She keeps
track of the drinks consumed on a ledger thereby granting the customers loans just like this hard money lender Atlanta Georgia service.