Monday, April 27, 2009

Animal Spirits
by Ackerlof and Shiller

I guess I am not the only one to pick up on this.

Review coming.
Animal Spirits and Unemployment Twitter Style

Animal spirits=reduced consumer confidence
do they reduce normal frictional unemployment?
does reduction in frictional unemployment reduce job growth ?
does this reduce human capital growth?
Health Care Delivery Systems Notepad Only

externalities of vaccinations
asymetrical information= providers know more about both demand and supply
use of conventional medical insurance presents higher transaction costs
does universal coverage reduce adverse selection?
some co-pay is necessary to reduce moral hazard
can the medical savings plan reduce moral hazard?
is multi tier pricing needed to help with poverty (both primary and secondary)?

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Animal Spirits and the Velocity of Money.



Which came first the "animal spirits"or the reduction in aggregate demand? If we held on to our money, whether or not, we had perceived a threat to our future cash flows; would we create the kind of atmosphere likely to persuade others to spend? Does my observation to others concerning slowing turn over at Nieman Marcus or Chili's make it worse?



I propose that Keynes' "animal spirits" might be rational rather than irrational. He defined it as the result of a spontaious urge as opposed to quantitativly reasoned. Perhaps yours (and my), tales of business woe are valid knowledge inputs?