Archive for the ‘Econ’ Category
Wednesday, September 6th, 2006
The free market works, and the media is amazed.
Seriously, does this surprise anyone that when the alternatives become economical, then people will buy them?
If I were on the sinestra side of the aisle, I'd be cheering for high gas prices, and hoping they go even higher.
But that's just me, taking ...
Posted in Econ | 6 Comments »
Wednesday, August 30th, 2006
One of the problems I've had with power de-regulation is that it truly hasn't been de-regulated. To be de-regulated, there must be the opportunity for increased supply to meet increasing demand. There are too many barriers to entry on the supply side of things to really make ...
Posted in Econ, Montana | 4 Comments »
Tuesday, July 25th, 2006
I've never understood the appeal of the self-checkout stands that are slowly gaining acceptance in some grocery stores. Here in Montana, I've only seen them at (*gasp*) Wal-mart, but I understand they are becoming more prevalent.
I used the self-checkout once, and found it to be an exercise in frustration, ...
Posted in Econ | 8 Comments »
Sunday, July 16th, 2006
With the energy market situation in the headlines, you can easily monitor the gasoline, heating oil and crude oil regular session futures prices on the New York Mercantile Exchange (because these prices are available at no charge, they come with a 30-minute delay) by going to:
Gasoline futures prices
http://www.futuresource.com/quotes/custom.jsp?us=rhu
Heating Oil futures ...
Posted in Econ, Montana | Comments Off
Tuesday, July 11th, 2006
Excellent special report from the USDA's Office of Chief Economist: "The Economic Feasibility of Ethanol Production From Sugar in the United States". This 78-page report has detailed cost and conversion factors.
Posted in Econ, General, Montana, National, World | 4 Comments »
Sunday, June 25th, 2006
Today's New York Times has a good article on the different effects that ethanol production is having in the grain producing areas of the U.S. (Note: You may have to register with the New York Times to access the article, but this is a no-fee registration.)
Posted in Econ, Montana | 2 Comments »
Thursday, May 11th, 2006
Refined copper prices have ZOOMED, quintupling in less than 3 years, to new life-of-market prices over $4.00/lb.
Strong demand from the usual culprits (China & India) as well as demand from several South American countries has bid up the price for the physical commodity, surprising even many in the speculative community.
Expect ...
Posted in Econ, Montana | Comments Off
Tuesday, May 9th, 2006
The Canadian-$ is at 91c U.S., and, over the next several months, there is fair chance that the Canadian-$ may go to par with the U.S.-$, making the U.S. more affordable to Canadians (and, Canada more expensive to tourists from the U.S.)
Posted in Econ, Montana | Comments Off
Saturday, March 11th, 2006
The Gazette headline reads: State launches campaign to stop illegal cigarette sales
What?? People are buying cigarettes on-line and out-of-state to avoid paying the tax?
[Montana Department of Justice's Gambling Investigation Bureau supervisor Tom] Oberweiser said the increase in illegal cigarette purchases appears to be tied to the new tobacco ...
Posted in Econ, Montana | 3 Comments »
Friday, March 3rd, 2006
A rising tide lifts all boats. Here is a great example.
The same could happen to our education system if we'd only let it.
Free market competition makes consumers, and ultimately society, better off.
Posted in Econ, Edjimicayshun | 13 Comments »
Saturday, January 21st, 2006
This is mainly to continue where Chad and I left off.
A few posts ago, we were talking about the price of gas, and discussing my contention about how the price should rise and fall in accordance with summer and winter demand.
That is, you would expect to see prices go up ...
Posted in Econ, Montana | 4 Comments »
Saturday, January 14th, 2006
Maybe it's time for a category about gas prices.
In my last post about the petroleum industry, I left some readers unconvinced that gas prices aren't controlled by a cabal of oil execs.
As many will gladly tell you, I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, but if the price of ...
Posted in Econ | 6 Comments »
Friday, November 4th, 2005
I find it amusing that my detractors often charge me with being an ideologue or a blind Bush supporter with scant evidence to back up their assertions. For some, if I'm to the right of Stalin, I'm a partisan Republican Kool-Aid drinker.
Sorry to disappoint, but it just ain't so.
Can ...
Posted in Econ, Navel-gazing, Rant | 9 Comments »
Sunday, May 1st, 2005
As I've noted elsewhere, I'm fascinated by the tendency for humans -- as a group -- to do the right thing. Whether it's driving in the "correct" lane, or using natural timing for stop lights, we humans as a group do alright with vaguely defined social rules. (Except ...
Posted in Econ | Comments Off
Friday, April 8th, 2005
Something that has always fascinated me has been the tendency for folks to self-organize, given a basic set of rules.
Example: You'll notice on a lot of streets and roads that vehicles don't always follow the yellow and white lines; they just kind of go where is natural. It's ...
Posted in Econ | 4 Comments »
