Religion & Liberty Online Archives

Intro to Economics

November 06, 2018

What you should know about frictional unemployment

Note: This is post #100 in a weekly video series on basic economics. Unemployment is generally harmful to both the economy and to the individual. But there is one type of unemployment that is (mostly) benign, and can even be beneficial: frictional unemployment. Continue Reading...
October 09, 2018

Are you more rational than the market?

Note: This is post #96 in a weekly video series on basic economics. The stock market is prone to certain anomalies. There’s the Monday Effect (where stocks fall more on Mondays), the January Effect (which says that stocks surge higher in that month), and the Momentum Effect (where past stock performance predicts future performance, at least a bit). Continue Reading...
September 25, 2018

Can you (or anyone) beat the stock market?

Note: This is post #94 in a weekly video series on basic economics. When even professional stock pickers are not able to consistently beat the market, you probably shouldn’t invest your life savings on the the hot stock tip from your brother-in-law. Continue Reading...
September 18, 2018

How expert are expert stock pickers?

Note: This is post #93 in a weekly video series on basic economics. In his 1973 book, A Random Walk Down Wall Street, economist Burton Malkiel made a controversial claim: a blindfolded monkey, throwing darts at the financial pages, could select a basket of stocks that would do just as well as a set chosen by the pros. Continue Reading...
September 04, 2018

The Great Recession and the failure of financial intermediaries.

Note: This is post #92 in a weekly video series on basic economics. What caused the Great Recession of 2008? In this video by Marginal Revolution University, economist Tyler Cowen discusses a couple of key reasons, including homeowners’ leverage, securitization, and the role of excess confidence and incentives. Continue Reading...