Category Archives: Macroeconomics

Hair Cuts around the World: An empirical study into GATT and GATS

Jan Hoffman of UNCTAD, President of the IAME, has published  another hair-raising report on international trade.  I hope he will consider submitting to the IAME conference in Hamburg this summer. Perhaps a poster presentation– it is too late for a peer-reviewed paper.

Jan Hoffman Logo

Abstract After years of hard work, I am pleased to present the results of an extensive empirical study on exports of services and related imports of goods: The Production of Hair Cuts around the Wo…

Source: Hair Cuts around the World: An empirical study into GATT and GATS – Shipping, trade logistics and development

Studies like this one and Colin Camerer’s famous report on New York taxi drivers have the potential to alter our views of conventional wisdom, macro- and micro economics about everyday economic phenomena.

Europe’s circular-economy opportunity

This is a fascinating McKinsey study promoting the notion of a circular economy, one which focuses on trying to reduce the externalities in economic activity to build a more sustainable economic system.  There are many good examples. You can also download the 98 page fiull report from the post.

Adopting circular-economy principles could not only benefit Europe environmentally and socially but could also generate a net economic benefit of €1.8 trillion by 2030. A McKinsey & Company article.

McKinsey Logo

Source: Europe’s circular-economy opportunity | McKinsey & Company

Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey – Philadelphia Fed

This is the highest rated predictor of the state of the economy as measured by GDP.

Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey

Manufacturing Business Outlook Survey – monthly survey of Third District manufacturers – Philadelphia Fed.

 

 

I found it in Charles Kirk’s Weekender (on Flipboard).  He linked to an article from Business Insider.  It compares the predictive value of this index with a number of others.