Economics RSS

  Some of the best jobs in academia are to be a professor of Cooperative Extension at Berkeley. The Cooperative Extension is one of the greatest inventions of the American educational system, designed to transfer knowledge to and learn from the experience of practitioners in agriculture and industry. We have two types of extension professionals: … Continue reading »

When I arrived in Berkeley for my Ph.D. about 50 years ago (1973, before the Yom Kippur War), I learned that the department of Agricultural Economics, which I joined, had several faculty members who were extension specialists. Their job has been to do real applied research and to provide information and education to adults (regular … Continue reading »

For over 230 days, Ukraine has been resisting Russian aggression. This war brings death and destruction at a scale not seen in Europe since WWII and the ripples of the war are felt everywhere—from the Ukrainian families who lost their loved ones to African countries that face the prospect of hunger. A long war rather … Continue reading »

From Today’s Headlines ….. NYT July 16, 2022 President Yields on Climate Plans as Talks Collapse [page A1] Trading Coal for Sunlight, Power Plants Get New Life [page A12] E.V.s Selling at a Record Pace Despite Shortages [page B1]   Do you see a pattern here? Where government is stymied by the self-interest of individual … Continue reading »

I am used to traveling in the summer to a conference in Ravello, visiting Israel, or participating in the European Environmental and Resource Economics Association (EAERE) meetings. Unfortunately, the pandemic stopped this tradition, and zooming is a poor substitute for in-person meetings. This year the June conference season is on again, and I discuss two … Continue reading »

The humanitarian catastrophe in Ukraine is only worsening as the conflict drags on. As we enter the fourth month of the war, it’s important to take stock and plan for a long-term, resilient and effective approach to sustained aid. Together with fellow leading Ukrainian economists, we’ve compiled suggestions on how to maximize the impact of individual donations and be sure you’re giving wisely.

Dear Professor Chomsky, we are a group of Ukrainian academic economists who were grieved by a series of your recent interviews and commentaries on the Russian war on Ukraine. We believe that your public opinion on this matter is counter-productive to bringing an end to the unjustified Russian invasion of Ukraine and all the deaths and suffering it has brought into our home country.

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.)

    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 »

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.

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 »

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.