Robert D Feinman - Essays on Social PolicyMusings on Society and Public PolicyWhy Fight Inflation- February 25, 2008 Standard arguments for fighting inflation may no longer be relevant now that the asset-owning classes are not as dependent upon on long-term fixed income investments. Perhaps central banks can now stop protecting their interests and turn to maintaining full employment instead.http://robertdfeinman.com/society/why_fight_inflation.html Non-Adiabatic Economics- February 25, 2008 Standard economic models make simplifying assumptions which may not correspond to realistic situations. An analogy is made to the ideal gas law in physics.http://robertdfeinman.com/society/non_adiabatic_economics.html What is Savings What is Spending- February 25, 2008 One of the problems with economic pundits is that they assume that words they use have a clear meaning. I'm currently having a problem with the words "savings" and "spending"...http://robertdfeinman.com/society/spend_save.html What's Wrong with Tariffs- February 25, 2008 Could tariffs on items not produced domestically be used as a wealth redistribution mechanism, when coupled with an income tax reductionhttp://robertdfeinman.com/society/tariffs.html Can Governments Function- February 23, 2008 Government is the only mechanism available to enforce rules in society. Private enterprise cannot perform these functions. To think otherwise is Utopianism.http://robertdfeinman.com/society/government_role2.html Impermanent Art- February 23, 2008 Has the concept of timeless art become irrelevanthttp://robertdfeinman.com/society/art.html Paying for Your Own Life- February 23, 2008 One can consider support for non-working years as an inter-generational transfer, or as a loan from prior generations. In either case it we have to pay it back. To do otherwise is stealing from future generations.http://robertdfeinman.com/society/pay_life.html Forgetting History - Paying the Price- February 23, 2008 How do we ensure that we learn from the pasthttp://robertdfeinman.com/society/forget_history.html Privatizing Social Services- February 13, 2008 Private philanthropy used to provide essential social services undermines democracies since it accustoms the population to the idea that aid is not best left to governments subject to public control.http://robertdfeinman.com/society/abolish_aid.html |