Marty Manley on economics, politics, technology, and culture

Archive for April, 2007

Protect Income, not Industries, Companies, or Jobs

Suppose we tried to improve our economic security and well-being by making it illegal for any employer to fire any employee for any reason. Over time, our strategy would backfire. We would become less secure because we would be less competitive as our companies lost out to foreign businesses with more flexible cost structures. As [...]

Google Devours Planet. General Motors Fails to Notice.

The press has been aflutter about Toyota overtaking GM as the world’s largest car company. Hardly a shock — especially in California, where Toyota crushed GM years ago. Toyota doesn’t just outsell GM in California, it outproduces it as well. The two companies jointly own New United Motors in Fremont — now part of Silicon [...]

"Rather Be Miserable With Than Without It"

"Rich man he say he would guessMoney can’t buy happinessPoor man he say he don’t doubt itBut he’d rather be miserable with than without it." — traditional Calypso ditty Michael Spence is a ridiculously accomplished scholar. Some years back, he won the Clark award given to the nation’s best economist under 40. After serving as [...]

A Challenge to Candidates: Require Anonymous Campaign Contributions

What if politicians never knew who donated money to their campaigns? Suppose campaign contributions were like votes: politicians  ask for and receive both. They would know how much money they raise just like they know how many votes they get. But contributions would be anonymous: politicians could no more figure out who contributed than they [...]

Gravity Lessons

Leaders of businesses assaulted by technology can sympathize with Wile E. Coyote. We know how he feels when he discovers that the road beneath his feet has turned to air. We laugh in sympathy as his expression turns sheepish and he pedals frantically. We know that fall is gonna hurt. These days you can find [...]

Barack Obama: an Amazing Launch

The first quarter fund raising results are devastating to Hilary Clinton. It is now clear which of the two leading Democratic candidates is setting up to go the the distance. Hilary Clinton Barack Obama Total $$ Raised, Q1 $26 million $25 million Number of Donors 50,000 100,000 % of Funds Available for Primary Est. $15million [...]