Back in August I listed the most-read posts of 2023. Here I will finish out the year by listing a few more highlights. This has been another big year for our website.
From Jeremy in October: Kids Are Much Less Likely to Be Killed by Cars Than in the Past This is good news (goods new is underreported). Jeremy also dives into the trade off between safety and letting kids roam free.
This connects with Jeremy’s post from March: The Leading Causes of Death Among Elementary-Age Children Happy New Year, everyone. We are glad you made it through childhood to share this next year with us. Tyler says he is “thankful for being able to watch and to try to understand the procession of history before us”. Agreed.
Thanksgiving 2023 is the Second Cheapest Ever (Relative to Earnings) Jeremy didn’t get a ton of blog traffic from this (good news is under clicked), but the White House Press Secretary picked it up. Jeremy also contributed a helpful table to the raging debate over How the Economy is Doing vs. How People Think the Economy is Doing.
Zachary has been giving out good advice for economics teachers, backed up by his data. All professors can read: 5 Easy Steps to Improve Your Course Evals. Econ professors check: Update on Game Theory Teaching. It’s about how to teach Game Theory, but I also see it as a testament to how much a course can improve if you allow a teacher to iterate multiple times at the same school. Administrators, take note.
What We Are Learning about Paper Books is jointly my reflection on AI generative books and a review of Tyler Cowen’s new book GOAT. I’m a techno-optimist, but I think there is value in an old-fashioned paper book, mostly from a behavioral or neuro perspective.
Warren Buffett’s Secret Sauce: Investing the Insurance “Float”
Where Can You Still Buy an Affordable Home in the US?
James on investing. Historical Price to Earnings Ratios By Industry
Two from Mike: Stop and Frisk was an Unmitigated Disaster and On minimum wages and the devil’s discount
What if you could get your phone or tablet to read Kindle or other text aloud to you? Search engine traffic has landed tens of thousands of visitors on this practical post by Scott: How to Read Aloud Kindle and Other Text on iPhone, iPad, and Android
Economist Writing Every Day 