Wrap Up for June 2021

By some estimates, there could be nearly a trillion dollars in deferred infrastructure maintenance.

Are we "better off"? It's complicated.

The politically homeless: "Last year marked the first time that there were more people registered as independents in the U.S. than Republicans or Democrats."

Pandemic circumstance turned broadband access into a necessity.

A closer look at the natural real rate and inflation expectations.

Lots of workers remain on the sidelines. Scott Sumner also considers the labour supply shock. Cyril Morong notes recent job gains for 25 to 54 year olds.

Why is the U.S. still so attached to timber for home building?

Not your average economic recovery.

A new safeguard to address sharp spikes in money market rates.

Part of the mismatch between employers and prospective employees, comes down to location.

It's been difficult for those with strong allergic reactions to the vaccine, to get definitive answers.

Much of the scarcity this time around, is artificial.

World trade is picking up more rapidly than expected. But there are regional disparities.

Some commodity prices are simply returning to pre-pandemic levels.

John Kay's book recommendations for "economics in the real world".

Given the unusual character of employment losses in the Covid recession, NGDP targeting should logically take a pause, but resume a normal path in the near future.

Markets are also spaces for social relationships.

Once again the Electoral College is under scrutiny.

When "enhancing consumer choice" is actually a betrayal of private property rights.

Addressing regional divides.

Wikipedia is more influential than some of us imagined.

Using Medicare's already fragile funding sources for this new drug: What were they thinking?

Adam Tooze touches on inflation basics, then discusses the Weimar hyperinflation.

 A Fed rule proposal to maintain nominal stability.

In many instances, women have been working all along.

Inflation: Which is transitory, and which is persistent?

"The untapped potential of less"

Practicality is making efficient use of the resources we already have.

A different approach is needed for the severely disabled.

"It seems that we approve of boundless intellectual property for nice people and no IP at all for scoundrels."

Milton Friedman did much to change the trajectory of monetary policy. He also stressed that monetary tools couldn't be used to address real targets.

Finally, progress in rights to repair.

"If you think of involuntary unemployment as being at the heart of recessions, you should start from a sticky wage framework, not a sticky price framework."

Will boarding houses make a return as affordable housing options? And last year, average household size increased for the first time in over 160 years.

On productive disagreement.

Housing in the seventies, versus now: similarities and differences.

Is industry concentration rising?

How could we regain our enthusiasm for the future?

Some unexpected leverage for low wage workers.

Training teams for mental health emergencies.

An unexpected price point for willingness to change behavior.

Social Security won't be an easy fix this time.

The shrinking role of the U.S. in global auto markets.

"Transformational cost reduction would have to come from changing what we think a house is." Also, "Why It's Hard to Innovate in Construction" Plus, "Why Did Agriculture Mechanize and Not Construction?"

The pandemic has affected our friendships.

Jason Furman and David Beckworth discuss fiscal possibilities in an era of low interest rates.

Balance as loyalty to group in exchange for freedom. 

What's behind the urge to quit? Also, some unemployed aren't coming back.

Peter Boettke remembers Steve Horwitz.

Water scarcity as a "classic externality risk."