2010

This 2010 blog post from Overcoming Bias explores the possibility of airlines and travel websites using cookies to manipulate prices for customers.

Economist Steven Landsburg uses a science fiction novel about people who overselling shares of their future income and the example of Dean Martin to ponder if these contracts inherently invite fraud.

ThinkMarkets discusses differing viewpoints on the causes of unemployment, including Lawrence H. Summers' evolving stance from 1999 to 2010.

via ThinkMarkets

Marginal Revolution shares that John Cleese paid $5,100 for a Mercedes taxi from Oslo to Brussels after being stranded by the Icelandic volcano. via The source of this content is Marginal Revolution.

Tyler Cowen links to general figures on air freight around the world and considers the impact European air travel issues could have on Kenya's tourism and agriculture.

Robin Hanson explores the boundaries of sexism by questioning if agreeing with a claim that women prefer more medical interventions makes him sexist on his blog post "I Am Sexist." via Overcoming Bias.

Arnold Kling discusses Tyler Cowen's fiscal problems ideas, highlighting spending restraint in smaller countries while questioning the US ruling class's ability to address similar challenges. via Econlib.

Tyler Cowen examines Canada's successful government spending cuts in the 1990s, arguing that high social trust may have been key to their success. via The source of this content is Marginal Revolution.

George Washington borrowed two books in 1789 and never returned them, racking up $300,000 in late fees at a New York library. via The source of this content is BBC News.

This blog post examines why some laws are reliably enforced while others are left to the discretion of authorities, contrasting private and centrally-enforced law.

via Overcoming Bias.

Steve Randy Waldman criticizes Goldman Sachs' ethics in creating and marketing a synthetic CDO called ABACUS.

Al Jazeera's live news updates cover Hezbollah rocket attacks on Haifa and Israel's bombing of Lebanon. via The source of this content is Al Jazeera.