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Highlights From The Comments On Vibecession

68 min • 10,515 words • 374 comments • 174 likes • podcast (56 min)

Scott reviews comments on his vibecession post, exploring when it started, whether it's really about economics or culture, and notably finding that China experiences similar pessimism despite 5-10x income growth, suggesting vibes can be completely divorced from economic reality. Longer summary

Scott Alexander reviews and discusses comments on his previous post about the 'vibecession' (the disconnect between good economic indicators and negative public sentiment). The discussion covers when the vibecession actually started, whether economic complaints are proxies for cultural dissatisfaction, housing and inflation concerns, international comparisons (especially China's similar phenomenon despite massive economic growth), and concludes that vibes may be genuinely divorced from economic reality, though housing prices and partisan political feelings play significant roles. Shorter summary

Recurring tags: highlights from the comments (67), social media (42), China (11), inflation (8), Matt Yglesias (6), generational differences (5), media influence (4), vibecession (3), housing costs (3), Baumol effect (3), economic sentiment (2), Brooklyn Theory (2), economic statistics (2), consumer confidence (2)

Dec 09, 2021

acx

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Does Georgism Work? Part 1: Is Land Really A Big Deal?

94 min • 14,489 words • 998 comments • 153 likes • podcast (110 min)

Lars Doucet presents evidence that land is still a major economic factor in modern times, contrary to some economists' claims. Longer summary

This post, written by Lars Doucet, is the first in a series examining the empirical basis for Georgism. It focuses on whether land is still a significant economic factor in modern times, as some economists argue it isn't. Doucet presents evidence that land is indeed a major economic factor, showing that it represents a large portion of urban real estate value, bank loans, personal assets, and government revenue potential. He also demonstrates that land ownership is highly concentrated among the wealthy, contributing to economic inequality. The post concludes that land is a 'really big deal' in modern economies, contrary to some economists' claims. Shorter summary

Recurring tags: urban planning (23), Georgism (6), economic inequality (6), housing crisis (3), Land Value Tax (2), wealth distribution (2)

Sep 28, 2016

ssc

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SSC Endorses Clinton, Johnson, Or Stein

34 min • 5,167 words • 317 comments

Scott Alexander endorses Clinton (or Johnson/Stein in safe states) over Trump, citing concerns about Trump's unpredictability and potential negative impacts on conservatism and social dynamics. Longer summary

Scott Alexander endorses voting for Hillary Clinton in swing states, and Clinton, Johnson, or Stein in safe states. He argues against Donald Trump, not primarily on policy grounds, but because of Trump's unpredictability, potential for high-variance outcomes, and the damage he could do to conservatism and the fight against social justice extremism. Alexander expresses concerns about Trump's lack of concrete plans, his potential to radicalize the next generation towards the far left, and his movement's epistemic vices. He also touches on issues like global warming and immigration, urging readers to consider the long-term consequences of their vote. Shorter summary

Recurring tags: political polarization (30), social justice (26), immigration (21), Donald Trump (14), voting (13), US elections (9), conservatism (8), global warming (5), Hillary Clinton (5), epistemic virtue (2)

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