Good short reads

I read way, way, way too many economics articles, but I am always looking for a prompt to help make the best decisions possible. (Economics isn't the study of money per se, but rather an explanation of decision making.)

What follows are a collection of mainstream articles by economists that really caught my eye this month.

First up: great tips from an economist on how to find great food when dining out. Tyler Cowen presents 6 ways that thinking like an economist will result in a better meal and a better deal.

Next: 25 great quotes from Thomas Sowell. A brilliant economist, Sowell is most known for making economics accessible and for challenging on economic grounds racial and political orthodoxy.

Then: Cowen on how America is changing and what it will mean for the next generation. If you read one economics article this month, read this one. His analysis is fundamentally econometric, but the real highlight are the distilled implications and strong, direct conclusions.

Finally, here's a cool graphic that sums up the case against the TSA:



Created by: OnlineCriminalJusticeDegree.com

What if football disappeared?

Tyler Cowen is an economist and publisher of the blog Marginal Revolution (tag line: "small steps to a much better world.") I read and follow Cowen not just because of his economics-driven insights and analysis, but also because he'll apply his thinking to surprising areas.

(Oh, and he's got excellent taste in food.)

Cowen (with co-writer Kevin Grier) regularly apply their thinking to sports at Grantland. In their most recent installment, Cowen & Grier propose a future where (American) football falls out of favor. (Hint: economic productivity might skyrocket.)

It's an intriguing thought, and jibes with what I've been wondering for years - who in the world would ever encourage their kid to play at a high level a sport notorious for intense and permanent physical and mental damage?

(Never mind that playing at that high level likely requires adopting a freakish physique and adopting a violent mindset where to be your best you have to accept maximum physical risk and celebrate imposing maximum physical violence on your opponent.)

Growing up, my parents forbade me from playing tackle football for all of these reasons. I didn't see the wisdom at the time, but seeing the toll that football can take on your head, heart, or joints really makes me appreciate my parents' decision. Seeing how violence on the football field has increased since my youth makes me wonder who would encourage playing the sport.

Strangely, though, I am a football fan and hold season tickets for my local team. My fanhood, though, has probably more to do with deep-seated allegiances (school, hometown).

I share Cowen and Grier's wonder at how long football may stay on top of fan interest. We already regularly see players permanently paralyzed during games, yet football popularity has never been higher. Will it take an on-field death to change opinion?

More great quotes…..

“A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them.” - John Maxwell


“You’ll seldom experience regret for anything that you’ve done. It is what you haven’t done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear. Do it! Develop an appreciation for the present moment. Seize every second of your life and savor it” - Unknown


“There are three qualities a leader must exemplify to build trust: competence, connection, and character.” - John Maxwell


A lot more great leadership & motivational quotes here: http://sourcesofinsight.com/john-maxwell-quotes/


And, as a bonus, a clever take on the Euro financial crisis, courtesy of Tyler Cowen's Marginal Revolution.