EconChrisClarke

@econchrisclarke.bsky.social

I Make Videos About Economics Ceteris Paribus Assistant Professor (Career-Track) at Washington State University https://econchrisclarke.wordpress.com/tiktok-sources-and-notes/ There are impersonators of me out there. Please report.

How did the USA become one of the most propering economies in history? An expansive continent wide market coupled with democratic institution and appropriate public goods and regulations. If we can see this much progress in 250 years imagine how much more we'll see in the next?

It is because we are richer today that we have less household servants. Irish girls in 1862 Boston received a "large wage" of $3k in today's money. Instead of celebrating greater wage equality, we complain. Many folks want superiority, not equality.

Gov Debt is a problem. Who caused it? Republican tax cuts? Unfunded boomer entitlements? With Social Security trust fund running out in less than 6 yrs, current Senate candidates will have to make unpopular decisions.

You can make a career by always predicting an economic crisis. Peter Schiff and Steve Keen spew fear for profit. The formula works. Criticize "mainstream econ" and say a crisis will come. Watch the views roll in. What can we do about it?

Who would have guessed five years ago that Journalism (2.3%) would have a far lower unemployment rate than Computer Engineering (7.8%)? Economics is highest paid non-engineering major, but with generally better unemployment. An early career med wage of $72k w/ unemp of 3.5%.

Are more folks working multiple part time jobs since the 80's? No. In fact things got better. Surprisingly, the "gig economy" jobs are at a record low. But instead, folks get more views, more clicks, more as revenue when they say otherwise. Lots of things are getting worse, this isn't one of them.

This is my uncertainty face. Clarke notes jobs contracted since last year. “The trend has been flat for ten months now." The Fed doesn’t have a lot of room to cut rates to ease job pressures due to inflation. Christopher notes that hiring for young people is “in the doldrums." 🧵

Christopher Clarke, PhD
Washington State University 
Making a shrugging uncertain face

The strait didn't close in the 80's during the Tanker War, it wont stay closed for today's conflict. Modern insurance markets are powerful. They allow the world's commerce to continue even in the face of armed conflict. It prevents a regional war from paralyzing the world's economy.

In Persian Gulf Region: 🟢 Highest GDP per cap: Qatar ($123k, PPP) 🟢Highest Pop: Iran (90M) 🟢Highest GDP: Saudi Arabia ($1.2T, exch rate) 🟢Combined the Gulf Cooperation Council towers over Iran. GDP: $2.3T vs $0.5T 🟢Israel's GDP alone is larger.

Has America stopped manufacturing stuff? No, we produce more than ever. But we need less workers to do it. The tariffs haven't stopped the factory jobs from disappearing. Only by focusing on advanced automated manufacturing can we keep increasing our capacity.

Jon Stewart expressed many common misconceptions about what economists believe. We are not market absolutists. Long have we called for environmental regulations. Another John Stuart (Mill) called the environment the "inheritance of the human race, there must be regulations."

New BLS nominee is a good sign. A career of careful research in data measurement. Unlike the partisan EJ Antoni, the Senate prevented from taking power, we will have competents at our economic data agency. The sector will never produce the same scope, quality, nor transparency as the government.

Ice Budget is bigger than FBI, DOJ, DEA, and all other federal law enforcement combined. To prosecute one crime, it has nearly a third the budget of every state and local police departments & jails. This isn't about budget deficits.

Capping credit cards to 10% will cause more harm than help. Consumer credit is competitive. Price controls create shortages. So instead, Consumers will use Payday Lenders w 300% interest. While evidence is mixed on banning payday lenders, a credit card ban will simply be bad.

MLK noted social & political equality are much easier than economic equality. He was right. While we've seen improvements in the unemployment and income gaps, progress is slow. Wealth gap may take another century.

Can we blame first-class cabins for unruly passengers? A 2016 paper made headlines w claim. I'm skeptical. 1. Huge effect size 2. Doesn't control for alcohol service 3. No replications. 4. Airlines haven't used the results; even in the face of the post-covid "Unruly-pocaplyse."

Can coups work? Maybe, but the added uncertainty even when an old regimenis replaced by a good one makes it difficult. Avg treatment effects are significantly negative for GDP per cap. It's driven by a decline in Domestic Investment, not a fall in foreign aid nor FDI. Robust to geography.