Scott analyzes Javier Milei's presidency in Argentina, noting mixed results in economic indicators and policies, with some successes in budget cuts and inflation reduction, but increased poverty rates. Longer summary

This post analyzes the performance of Javier Milei, Argentina's libertarian president, focusing on key economic indicators and policies. Scott examines government surplus, inflation, poverty rates, rent control abolition, and Milei's approval ratings. He notes that Milei has achieved a government surplus through significant spending cuts and has reduced monthly inflation, though yearly inflation figures remain high. Poverty has increased under Milei's administration, but there are slight signs of economic improvement. The abolition of rent control has led to increased housing supply and lower prices. Milei's approval ratings, while declining, remain relatively high compared to other world leaders. Scott concludes that while Milei has fulfilled his promise of short-term economic shock, it's too early to judge the long-term success of his policies. Shorter summary

A critical review of 'Why Nations Fail' that examines the authors' academic work and methodology, while questioning the book's quality and practical implications. Longer summary

This review critiques 'Why Nations Fail' by Acemoglu and Robinson (AR), arguing that while the book itself is not very good, AR's academic papers present a more compelling case for their thesis that political institutions are the main determinant of economic growth. The reviewer explains AR's methodology using instrumental variables, discusses their evidence and criticisms, and ultimately concludes that even if AR are correct, their extremely long-run focus may not be very useful for practical policymaking or development efforts. Shorter summary

The post critically examines the impact of India's 1991 economic reforms, suggesting that the country's economic growth began earlier and that the causes are more complex than commonly believed. Longer summary

This post examines the economic reforms in India and their impact on poverty reduction and economic growth. The author challenges the widely held belief that the 1991 reforms were the primary cause of India's economic boom. By analyzing various studies and economic data, the post suggests that India's growth trajectory began earlier, possibly in the mid-1970s or early 1980s. The exact causes of this growth remain unclear, with various factors such as trade liberalization, public investment, and political attitudes towards business being potential contributors. The author also discusses the potential impact of socialist policies on developing countries and the importance of understanding these economic shifts for future policy-making and arguments against certain forms of socialism. Shorter summary

A collection of interesting links from March 2014 covering science, politics, law, religion and culture, with Scott's commentary on each. Longer summary

This is a links post collecting various interesting articles and curiosities from March 2014. It covers a wide range of topics including scientific publishing scandals, police body cameras, religious interpretation, legal oddities, and cultural debates. The post maintains a light, humorous tone while sharing these varied items, often adding Scott's own commentary or observations. The links are diverse, ranging from serious studies about inequality and police behavior to humorous items like unusual legal cases and internet memes. Shorter summary