Comments for Olga Nicoara's Blog http://olganicoara.wordpress.com Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, Everyday - a special case of a perfect day in need of thoughtful economic considerations Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:12:49 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on BSEC Bubble Chart 2007 by Olga Nicoara http://olganicoara.wordpress.com/2009/11/15/bsec-bubble-chart-2007/#comment-126 Olga Nicoara Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:12:49 +0000 http://olganicoara.wordpress.com/?p=428#comment-126 thanks! Yes, gapminder is awesome. I've always wanted to use interactive applications them in my work, but somehow I never do. thanks! Yes, gapminder is awesome. I’ve always wanted to use interactive applications them in my work, but somehow I never do.

]]> Comment on Why so poor? by Olga Nicoara http://olganicoara.wordpress.com/2009/11/14/why-so-poor/#comment-125 Olga Nicoara Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:08:40 +0000 http://olganicoara.wordpress.com/?p=424#comment-125 You mean I better have a math-based methodology? Well, I only have good economics and good fieldwork. Frankly, so far, don't feel threatened by anything. You mean I better have a math-based methodology? Well, I only have good economics and good fieldwork. Frankly, so far, don’t feel threatened by anything.

]]> Comment on Why so poor? by Gabriel http://olganicoara.wordpress.com/2009/11/14/why-so-poor/#comment-124 Gabriel Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:31:22 +0000 http://olganicoara.wordpress.com/?p=424#comment-124 Whatever it is, you better have a very good instrument. :-) Whatever it is, you better have a very good instrument. :-)

]]> Comment on BSEC Bubble Chart 2007 by Gabriel http://olganicoara.wordpress.com/2009/11/15/bsec-bubble-chart-2007/#comment-123 Gabriel Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:30:50 +0000 http://olganicoara.wordpress.com/?p=428#comment-123 gapminder.org has a larger dataset which shows a stronger relation. gapminder.org has a larger dataset which shows a stronger relation.

]]> Comment on Measuring “Doing Business in 2010″ – World Bank vs. Reality by Measuring “Doing Business in 2010″ – World Bank vs. Reality « Olga … | centralafrican http://olganicoara.wordpress.com/2009/09/09/measuring-doing-business-in-2010-world-bank-vs-reality/#comment-119 Measuring “Doing Business in 2010″ – World Bank vs. Reality « Olga … | centralafrican Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:52:48 +0000 http://olganicoara.wordpress.com/?p=406#comment-119 [...] here to see the original:  Measuring “Doing Business in 2010″ – World Bank vs. Reality « Olga … Share and [...] [...] here to see the original:  Measuring “Doing Business in 2010″ – World Bank vs. Reality « Olga … Share and [...]

]]> Comment on Measuring “Doing Business in 2010″ – World Bank vs. Reality by Measuring “Doing Business in 2010″ – World Bank vs. Reality « Olga … | Headlines Today http://olganicoara.wordpress.com/2009/09/09/measuring-doing-business-in-2010-world-bank-vs-reality/#comment-118 Measuring “Doing Business in 2010″ – World Bank vs. Reality « Olga … | Headlines Today Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:16:45 +0000 http://olganicoara.wordpress.com/?p=406#comment-118 [...] posted here: Measuring “Doing Business in 2010″ – World Bank vs. Reality « Olga … Share and [...] [...] posted here: Measuring “Doing Business in 2010″ – World Bank vs. Reality « Olga … Share and [...]

]]> Comment on Gore Warming vs. Mother Nature by Gabriel http://olganicoara.wordpress.com/2009/08/27/gore-warming-vs-mother-nature/#comment-117 Gabriel Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:22:27 +0000 http://olganicoara.wordpress.com/?p=388#comment-117 Here's another puzzle for realists... How come one of the best predictors of whether someone is a climate skeptic or not is their views on income tax increases (at relevant ranges, in the US, let's say)? ;-) And, assuming we claim that it's spurious, how do we explain that another good predictor is their views on the minimum wage? -- I have a feeling that this isn't about the environment at all, I must be crazy! Here’s another puzzle for realists… How come one of the best predictors of whether someone is a climate skeptic or not is their views on income tax increases (at relevant ranges, in the US, let’s say)? ;-) And, assuming we claim that it’s spurious, how do we explain that another good predictor is their views on the minimum wage? — I have a feeling that this isn’t about the environment at all, I must be crazy!

]]> Comment on Trouble in the Silicon Valley. Blame USCIS by Olga Nicoara http://olganicoara.wordpress.com/2009/08/23/trouble-in-the-silicon-valley-blame-uscis/#comment-116 Olga Nicoara Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:38:04 +0000 http://olganicoara.wordpress.com/?p=384#comment-116 I think I see what you mean and for that I partly agree with you. If you compare labor market liberalization with the overnight Soviet economy - market economy change, than yes, I feel for the truly desperate times those people have gone through. As one of them, I could probably write a whole book about it. But, really, trade is freer now than it was 50 years ago thanks to institutions like WTO, and regional and local FTAs. Sadly, I think much of what is left of the current debate over trade clings to the idea of job creation=job protection, an illusion fed with political promises without any regard to the microeconomics or the dynamics of the labor market. I think I see what you mean and for that I partly agree with you. If you compare labor market liberalization with the overnight Soviet economy – market economy change, than yes, I feel for the truly desperate times those people have gone through. As one of them, I could probably write a whole book about it. But, really, trade is freer now than it was 50 years ago thanks to institutions like WTO, and regional and local FTAs. Sadly, I think much of what is left of the current debate over trade clings to the idea of job creation=job protection, an illusion fed with political promises without any regard to the microeconomics or the dynamics of the labor market.

]]> Comment on Trouble in the Silicon Valley. Blame USCIS by Gabriel http://olganicoara.wordpress.com/2009/08/23/trouble-in-the-silicon-valley-blame-uscis/#comment-115 Gabriel Mon, 24 Aug 2009 02:25:39 +0000 http://olganicoara.wordpress.com/?p=384#comment-115 I'm not sure the US should have a Silicon Valley anymore. If US workers have higher reservation wages than foreigners then they can just go do that next best alternative and all is fine, no? It's also weird to claim that everyone will be better off with free migration, without any compensation. Nothing in Economic theory supports such a claim and a lot of things support the opposite. I think we need a good, large and microfounded model of international trade with which we could simulate the counterfactual and figure out what policies will make sure any change in trade policy will not leave any group particularly worse off. The apparent failure of NAFTA-vintage models shows what a hard task this is. -- The status quo might be the best bet until we get a good grasp of the underlying micro- structure, unless we want to risk putting a lot of people through gratuitous hardship. I think the profession can come up with some serious recommendations re: fiscal policy reform, for example. I don't think we can say the same regarding trade. I’m not sure the US should have a Silicon Valley anymore. If US workers have higher reservation wages than foreigners then they can just go do that next best alternative and all is fine, no?

It’s also weird to claim that everyone will be better off with free migration, without any compensation. Nothing in Economic theory supports such a claim and a lot of things support the opposite.

I think we need a good, large and microfounded model of international trade with which we could simulate the counterfactual and figure out what policies will make sure any change in trade policy will not leave any group particularly worse off.

The apparent failure of NAFTA-vintage models shows what a hard task this is. — The status quo might be the best bet until we get a good grasp of the underlying micro- structure, unless we want to risk putting a lot of people through gratuitous hardship.

I think the profession can come up with some serious recommendations re: fiscal policy reform, for example. I don’t think we can say the same regarding trade.

]]> Comment on Trade restrictions. Untangling WTO tariff statistics – Albania by Albania » Elvana Gjata Hi-Tech | virtual albania http://olganicoara.wordpress.com/2009/07/08/trade-restrictions-untangling-wto-tariff-statistics-albania/#comment-110 Albania » Elvana Gjata Hi-Tech | virtual albania Thu, 16 Jul 2009 07:52:30 +0000 http://olganicoara.wordpress.com/?p=350#comment-110 [...] Trade restrictions. Untangling WTO tariff statistics – Albania …For instance, does it matter to know the simple average of all levels of customs duties applied on dairy products by Albania? For statistical records, maybe, but for economic interpretation, very little. … [...] [...] Trade restrictions. Untangling WTO tariff statistics – Albania …For instance, does it matter to know the simple average of all levels of customs duties applied on dairy products by Albania? For statistical records, maybe, but for economic interpretation, very little. … [...]

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