Economics

A Great Economist Has Passed

I’m hearing that Milton Friedman died last night. RIP and condolences to Rose.

More thoughts later.

[5 PM Update]

Glenn has some relevant links

As many have noted, he wasn’t just an economist, but (like Hayek) a tireless fighter for human liberty.

[Update at 7:30 PM EST]

Here’s another link roundup. Here’s one from Brian Doherty:

Undoubtedly the most successful and influential proponent of libertarian thought in the 20th century, Milton Friedman, died last night at age 94. His successes as both a technical economist and libertarian polemicist are enormous. We can thank him, in large part, for happy events from the elimination of the draft to the conquest of inflation. Just a quick note now

Weird

Necrobestiality?

Is having amorous relations with a deceased ungulate a crime? Should it be?

The lawyer of a man accused of carnal activity with a dead deer says no, at least to the first question (registration may be required).

Hathaway called it a dead deer, Boughner said, not a carcass.

Technology and Society

Clogged Arteries

Glenn writes about a new book on traffic congestion, and how it’s a bigger problem than people realize.

I’ve often thought that it is a massive economic waste. I also think that there are things that could be done about it that would be relatively low cost, and don’t involved construction of new highways or relaning the roads. As I’ve noted before, if I were king, I’d launch a massive public education campaign on lane discipline, and enforce it with tickets. I’d be harder on left lane hogs than on speeders.

Popular Culture

Forget The BCS

Pete Fiutak thinks that Saturday’s game should be dubbed the national championship:

Not only have Ohio State and Michigan had the two best teams all year, there isn’t anyone else deserving to be in the picture. In the storied history of college football’s greatest rivalry, and it is college football’s greatest rivalry, this will be the biggest game ever played between the two. That makes this, arguably, the biggest regular season game in the history of the sport. So let this weekend be it. Crown the winner the national champion, and let’s get the talk about the 2007 season going. USC, Florida or Arkansas as the preseason No. 1 … discuss.

That’s the way it looks to me. The national championship is mythical anyway, might as well do what makes sense. But of course, that wouldn’t generate all the revenue that they’re expecting in Glendale in January. And of course, it’s easily conceivable that the computers will decide to do a rematch, anyway.

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