economics – Lone Candle

The Great Disconnect: 4.2% Unemployment And Nobody’s Happy

Posted on July 5, 2026 by Lone Candle

Trump’s tax cuts that mostly benefit the wealthy do not sunset. His financial benefits for the middle class and below do sunset. If he really thought these programs were good and were helping people, he and the Republican Congress that passed them would have made them permanent, instead, he made them temporary to use as an election issue.

Trump Accounts mostly benefit those wealthy enough to take advantage of them as tax deductions (ways to avoid paying taxes, making the deficit, debt, and inflation worse).

Anytime the government does something through tax deductions instead of checks, it’s a sign that it will mostly benefit the wealthy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poeAc1jUvzk&t=682s

Arindrajit Dube on Wages

Posted on June 24, 2026 by Lone Candle

When companies got rid of an old CEO and for the first time got a new one that had an MBA, wages fell. It looks like the ideology of the CEO matters. If the CEO believes in standard business school teachings that suggest businesses should lower wages if they can, then they do it, and people get paid less.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6O20vKWZ_Q

Before the Great Recession, “The Warning” (full documentary)

Posted on June 18, 2026 by Lone Candle

Congress was warned well ahead of time about how the lack of regulation and transparency would lead to a great crash when many big institutions were all making the same bets and making the same assumptions. Congress didn’t listen. They listened to the Ayn Rand follower Alan Greenspan instead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ25uZtey34

What´s next after the reopening of Hormuz? Prof. Steve Keen

Posted on June 18, 2026 by Lone Candle

Some economists act like different factors of the economy are interchangeable when really they are complements.

The blocking of the Strait limited the supply of multiple inputs, and it will take time to get logistics and production back to normal. The downstream economic impacts of the blockade are not over.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkxIhUk2Sig

The Biggest Problem No One Wants to Talk About

Posted on June 13, 2026 by Lone Candle

Politicians used to talk more about saving or fixing social security. It is closer to running out now, and politicians irresponsibly ignore it!

Someone’s willingness to pay isn’t just a function of how much they want the product or service, but also their ability to pay. So, when you have limited seats available for a sports game or concert, the people who go are not simply those who love the sport or the artist the most, but those who can better afford expensive tickets. This can result in rich people who don’t even care that much, having the best seats.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJPlYopcxmc

Health Care 2

Posted on June 12, 2026 by Lone Candle

Overall, the scientific evidence finds that Medicaid does improve health. There was a literature that found this, then the Oregon study found that it didn’t! But then with the ACA, some people were randomly sent a reminder to sign up for Medicaid, and those that got the letter, signed up more, and they had better health outcomes. The Oregon study followed people for too short of time and the sample was too small.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp8JNHPP7MA&list=PLUl4u3cNGP62KS2YhlASvGBxxL8HgB11p&index=14

How One Hedge Fund Killed Chipotle

Posted on June 10, 2026 by Lone Candle

Finance guys made money while making Chipotle a worse restaurant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vibT_eZdD4