Category: Economics

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[519] Of freedom to arms

I made the following posting on ReCom.org and thought, hey, I’ll post this on my blog too. And thus begun the Clone Wars have. =p

About a year or so ago, an assault rifle ban introduced by the Clinton administration lapsed. Many predicted an increase in crime with the ban lapse. And it has been a natural experiment ever since. My econ professor said during the day of the lapse, America is a great country, but it’s a weird one. With the regression analysis of firearm on crime in mind, I agreed with him then.

However, despite the prediction, according to NYT here (reg. req.), crime has not risen, at least not significantly from what I understand from the article. Really surprising to me and it only strengthens my opinion on the freedom to arm. Do note however that the assault rifle ban was somewhat ineffective because it banned a subset of firearms.

I’m kind of divided on whether we should have free access to firearm (or at least easily obtained license like those of vehicle licenses) or we should ban firearm from the public altogether. One part of me thinks we should be allowed to own firearms (I’ve held a “senapang patah” a few times but never fired it) or we should all be happy with the current status in Malaysia.

In my opinion, if all private citizens were to be allowed to arm themselves, then those bag-snatchers, thieves, etc would have to think twice or thrice before they act. Furthermore, to those who are in love of CS, Quake, Doom, etc, shooting is fun! You must agree!

At the same time, I’m a green and I find myself quite irritated seeing another hunting season on the horizon.

In the light of this finding by NYT, what is your opinion on freedom to arm?

Nevertheless, I’m quite ignorant of the current firearm status in Malaysia. If anybody has some info to offer, do share it.

This is a modified version.

p/s – presenting to you, two presents I give to me (yes, I’m that sad).

I chose Creative Zen Micro over IPod because:
1. Everybody has an IPod, or two. I want to be different.
2. Zen Micro, for USD 220 offers 5 GB of space, FM radio, recorder (able to record radio broadcast and voice!) and the best thing that IPod lacks, replaceable battery!Behind the mp3 player is my left hand. Behind my left hand is Rifkin’s The European Dream. I found out about the book from Boris. I’m currently reading In Praise to Slowness. With all due respect to Carl Honore, despite some appealing ideas, my economic sense disagrees with many of the author’s points.

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Economics Sports

[514] Of Malaysia and the American trade deficit

Did you know, Malaysia ranked 7th as countries that contribute to the American $60 billion trade deficit?

The first place is China’s of course, contributing half of the deficit – $30 billion. Malaysia is attributed with almost $3 billion.

It’s interesting to see how the dots connect. And I wonder, does Malaysia have a trade deficit? I have to look that up.

I do know however, Malaysia has an huge budget deficit to GDP ratio; if I recall correctly, larger than the US. This is one reason why I find Malaysia is weird – in the US, the deficit is giving everybody headache; in Malaysia, almost nobody gives a damn.

Maybe because, the people in Malaysia care more for the establishment of moral police rather than maintaining and improving sound economic performance. Given that, it’s surprising to see Malaysia as one of the tiger economies.

p/s – to all Liverpool fans, aww, shut up and quit telling me that you guys are in the semifinal. Let me be with Ajax…

As such, w00t! Feyenoord lost 1-4 to Den Bosch. Pity Ruud Gullit but w00t! Ajax stays third and is making ground for second place!

pp/s – who am I kidding. Malaysia is an export-oriented country. Trade deficit. LOL!

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Economics Sports

[512] Of lovely economics

I have nothing much to say. All I wanted to do by posting this entry is to highlight an article entitled Economics Often a Bundle of Contradictions.

WASHINGTON – Buying binges by consumers and companies can power the economy yet catapult the trade deficit. A weaker dollar can help U.S. manufacturers but hurt American shoppers. Rising home prices can give a homeowner a sense of wealth and make a house hunter feel cash-strapped. These are just a few of the apparent contradictions of economics.

Now, you know what I learn in macroeconomics. Well, part of it.

Fair use. AFC Ajaxp/s – after a string of bad performance and news, Ajax seems to have find it form in the last two matches.

Today, Ajax drilled 4 goals behind second placed AZ Alkmaar. AZ earlier this week won its away match against Villareal and making them closer the UEFA semifinal.

With Ajax’s win, the team has returned to the third place, with one point behind AZ. However, Ajax has played an extra game compared to both AZ and Feyenoord. Feyenoord, currently fourth in the Eredivisie, will play Ajax next week. Ajax need to at least draw with Feyenoord in order to stay third and keep a sensible gap with AZ. Else, no Champions’ League for us.

PSV is first and has possibly secured the Dutch crown.

pp/s – w00t! Somebody from Bloomberg actually replied to my job application. We’ll see what’s going to happen from here.

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Economics Humor Politics & government

[510] Of Michigan’s deficit

I was browsing for some jobs somewhere. There, I saw a position at the Michigan’s House of Representatives. The job description is as follow:

Job Qualifications
Interns should display an interest in politics/public policy, exhibit ample written and oral communication skills, maintain the ability to effectively convey ideas in a diplomatic manner, and be adept in working with diverse groups of people and perspectives.

Job Description
Interns would be responsible for assisting policy analysts with research pertaining to the following legislative issue areas: energy and technology, labor and industry, economy, transportation, education, mental health, banking, criminal justice, family and children services, environment, agriculture, tax and healthcare. We are flexible about times, days and the number of hours worked each week;

The catch line however:

however, given the state’s nearly $1 billion budget deficit, interns cannot be paid.

Somebody is actually using the deficit as a reason not to pay. Pretty hilarious, to me at least.

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Economics Environment

[507] Of idealist’s curse

Earlier yesterday, during dinner, I couldn’t finish the food on my plate. I felt bad about it but I sincerely didn’t have the stomach for more. I probably shouldn’t have literally bit more than I could chew.

To be easy on myself, I was in fact served instead of helping myself with the stuff that I couldn’t even name. Hours later after leaving my table, I realize that I’m not unique in having leftover on the plate and I’m not entirely sure the server is at fault.

Then it came to me – the richer we are, the more we waste. To be precise as what has been implied in countless economic classes, the wealthier we are, the more we consume. However, though consumption itself produces waste, I’m talking about a different species of waste altogether. The waste I’m referring to is the things that are consumable but aren’t consumed and thrown out as filthy garbage nevertheless, just like the food I left on my plate.

I definitely expect better-off people to waste more than famine victims in Africa and elsewhere. I hold this but I still waste. It seems that I, no, we, are cursed to waste. Worse, I call myself a green – what a terrible curse it is. It’s painful to acknowledge this while knowing others would be willing to even eat our leftover if they were given the chance to do so, no matter how disgusting it is.

Perhaps, this is why I eat rather irregularly. Too scared to waste and too scared to violate my own principle. Yet, I violate it often and risk of being a hypocrite almost everyday. It’s the curse of an idealist I’d suppose.