In the words of a well-known Ukrainian military expert Oleg Zhdanov, there are only two ways to end a war: either one side loses or the other. All other options lead to postponed wars in the future. Something has to give. (Hint: Russia.)
On the difference between Agricultural Economics
For fifty years, I wondered what the difference between an agricultural and resource economics (ARE) and ECON departments was? Thinking about it for over forty years, I will tell you how I came to an answer. I began my working life as a computer programmer and studied economics and statistics in Israel. Eithan … Continue reading »
Dear President Biden and Democrats, here’s your economic message
As America slouches toward the midterm elections, President Biden and the Democrats need an economic message that celebrates their accomplishments to date – job creation and higher wages – yet also takes aim at the major abuses of economic power that are fueling inflation and widening inequality.
A Blueprint for the Reconstruction of Ukraine
On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. Thousands of civilians have been killed; millions of people have been displaced, including 2 million children displaced outside of Ukraine; and the scale of destruction in the country is already staggering. The General Assembly of the United Nations has condemned Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. Although the … Continue reading »
Semantics won’t stop Putin from further escalating the war
Despite Putin’s claims that he will refocus on the Eastern regions, Russia continues its assault on Kyiv and moves ever further West. President Biden’s visit to Poland was met with increased air strikes on the closest Ukrainian city, Lviv. This is escalation.
The EU’s reluctance to impose tough sanctions on Russian energy is prolonging the war
It is crystal clear that the European Union has the key to force Putin to stop this war and prevent the world from sliding into the law of the jungle. With no energy revenues, the Russian economy will experience a blow that no dictator can afford.
Sanctions on Russian oil have a bite
The West has significant leverage with Russia even with modest sanctions. On the other hand, the EU countries have the ability to carry on without Russian energy with modest costs. This is not the time to appease Putin again. This is the time to stand up to Putin and use a strong bargaining position to bring peace to Europe and protect global security.
Massive economic sanctions are needed to bring Putin to the negotiating table
So far, sanctions on Russia have been imposed in a piecemeal manner in response to atrocities in Ukraine: A leveled city in Ukraine is followed by a new tier of sanctions on Russia. Apparently, this approach has not deterred Putin from escalating the war. Only massive economic costs that bring on popular unrest in Russia will bring Putin to serious peace negotiations.
Stop the corruption of Russian money
In the new reality where Russia invaded Ukraine and threatens a nuclear attack on other countries, it is important to understand how far the tentacles of Russian money extend in the West. It is equally important to identify stashes of dirty Russian wealth to limit the ability of Putin’s regime to fund his aggressive war in Ukraine.
Why we need a no-fly zone over Ukraine
To close the skies over Ukraine, not a single shot needs to be fired. Instead, the idea is to provide a credible threat of deterrence. If Russian military planes know that they will be shot down for violating the no-fly zone, then they will not fly over Ukraine’s land.
Putin’s war and its economic and geopolitical realities
Putin’s means of keeping Western liberal democracy at bay isn’t just to invade Ukraine. It’s also to stoke division inside the West by fueling racist nationalism in Western Europe and the United States. In this, Trump and Trumpism continue to be Putin’s most important ally.
Solidarity Forever! A Mexican Labor Victory benefits Mexican, U.S. and Canadian Workers
Workers at the General Motors plant in Silao, Mexico won a surprise victory Feb. 2. Tired of rockbottom wages and substandard working conditions, they voted in an independent union and rejected a corrupt and compliant one. Their victory could also prove to be very positive for U.S. and Canadian workers and set the stage for building labor solidarity across borders.
Addressing the structural foundations of homelessness in the Bay Area
Ending homelessness in the Bay Area will require a strong commitment at all levels of government, including the political will not only to address the immediate crisis of people living on the street, but also to change the underlying structural conditions that create housing insecurity for (extremely low-income) households.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Tools for building a resilient society
How do we Build a Resilient Society? Presented on Oct 22, 2021, Barcelona Spain at LaSalle Universitat Ramon Llull on the occasion of of my investiture as a Doctor Honorus Causa The Challenge We are in the vortex of a revolution. Technology is a relentless rising tide that pushes us to adapt and revise how … Continue reading »
The so-called ‘labor shortage’ is actually a living-wage shortage
You might say American workers have declared a national general strike until they get better pay and improved working conditions.
Why UC Berkeley — not Harvard — is America’s top college
Forbes’ No. 1 ranking underscores that private universities are often engines of wealth inequality
On The Road Again – The AAEA Meeting in Austin
Between August 1st and 4th, I attended the annual meeting of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA) in Austin, Texas. This was the first time in two years that I attended a live conference, and it was much more enjoyable than I expected. Four hundred and fifty members of the association were present, … Continue reading »
Balancing depleted budgets on the backs of kids…let’s not do it
By Sylvia Allegretto, Emma Garcia & Elaine Weiss. Blog originally posted by the Economic Policy Institute. As Congress debates the appropriate amount of investments needed to boost the economic recovery from the COVID-19-induced recession, we can learn a lot by carefully looking at the decisions made in the aftermath of the Great Recession of 2007–09. … Continue reading »
More vaccines, less economic suffering are key to a return to normalcy
In January, my nephew Judah informed me that he planned to get married this year and told me that he will time the wedding so I could participate. I arrived in Israel to join the wedding last week, after being vaccinated in late February. Israel is now in transition to a post-pandemic reality, as most … Continue reading »
Sports, Economics, and Politics
I’ve loved sports since I was young. My parents were both religiously traditional and not well off, so taking me to watch professional sports events on the Sabbath wasn’t an option. In high school, I got a job at a nearby basketball arena so I could watch professional basketball games. After I finished setting up … Continue reading »