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John Bogle, “If You’re Not Worried Today, You’re Really Not Paying Much Attention”

Posted by Sean | September 22, 2008 .

Tess Vigland interviewed indexing guru John Bogle in Saturday’s Marketplace Money.
selected quotes:
What did you do with your money this week?
“Nothing.”
People are really wondering about the safety of their money wherever they put it, what do you say to them?
“First of all, if you’re not worried today, you are really not paying much attention. This is [...]

4 Comments

re: What Caused The Financial Crisis Of 2008?

Posted by Sean | September 22, 2008 .

I’ve been posting daily, but sometimes in the form of comments on other sites.
Pinyo at Moolanomy asks, “What Caused The Financial Crisis Of 2008?“
His response: GREED. I agree and I disagree.
My response,
“What I don’t get.. did humans suddenly become more greedy the last few years? People say there is greed on Wall Street. Yet there [...]

2 Comments

Deflation: What Happens When Prices Fall (Rambling Review)

Posted by Sean | September 9, 2008 .

title: Deflation
sub-title: What Happens When Prices Fall
pages: 194
author: Chris Farrell
published: 2004
rented: public library

Everyone knows about Inflation.
It sucks. We hate it. Make it go away!
But what about the flip side, Deflation?
It is rarely discussed in the U.S. because we have not seen it lately.
And talk of it coming back is (ahem!) not a topic for polite [...]

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Poll: Would You Rather Have 10% Inflation or 10% Deflation?

Posted by Sean | September 8, 2008 .

Inspired by the “Would You Rather” category at BudgetsAreSexy.com…
If you could have one or the other, 10% inflation or 10% deflation, no middle ground, which one would you choose? Both ‘flations here mean an overall rise or fall in the level of prices for goods and services.
If you do not vote, the outcome for the [...]

4 Comments

That Can’t Happen Again?

Posted by Sean | September 4, 2008 .

I’m almost done with Deflation: What Happens When Prices Fall by Chris Farrell.
money quote:
Now, when the Fed governors fanned out across the country to reassure the public, they repeatedly mentioned that the central bank had a number of tools in its monetary toolbox. But most of these methods are untested.
Now, I’m not outside proclaiming the [...]

1 Comment

Why Do Boom/Bust Cycles Get Too Big?

Posted by Sean | August 13, 2008 .

Answer: The Blame Game
At least that is the conclusion of JK Galbraith in his book on the big crash:

"The real choice was between an immediate and deliberately engineered collapse and a more serious disaster later on. Someone would certainly be blamed for the ultimate collapse when it came. There was no question whatever as to [...]

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Review: The Making of Modern Economics (Audiobook)

Posted by Sean | July 27, 2008 .

title: The Making of Modern Economics:
sub-title:The Lives and Ideas of the Great Thinkers
length: 19 hours, 32 minutes (unabridged)
author:Mark Skousen
published: 2004
purchased: Audible.com

Finally!
I don’t know which week I started listening to this book, but it took nearly twenty hours to complete. How in the world did I get myself into this mess? I liked Macro [...]

1 Comment

Prius Owners: Are They Bad At Math?

Posted by Sean | July 18, 2008 .

Lately in the mainstream media and on personal finance blogs, I’ve have seen comments that people are uninformed or have poor math skills if they buy expensive hybrids. Hmm… why do people say Prius owners are bad at math, but not people who own Hummers?
Is it assumed that the H2 owners derive so much pleasure [...]

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