Econometrics and Economic Development

A Neat Story on Empirical Evaluation of Government Policy Effectiveness

(Via Greg Mankiw’s Blog)

http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2012/03/free-bikes-and-girls-education.html

A Sociological Explanation of US Inequality

Watch Author Charles Murray on Bubbles, Marriage and 'Coming Apart on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.

The Art and Science of Language

One of my favorite modern writers – the gorgeous and talented Jhumpa Lahiri – explores the joys of reading in her NYTIMES column:

“When I am experiencing a complex story or novel, the broader planes, and also details, tend to fall away. Rereading them, certain sentences are what greet me as familiars. You have visited before, they say when I recognize them. We encounter books at different times in life, often appreciating them, apprehending them, in different ways. But their language is constant. The best sentences orient us, like stars in the sky, like landmarks on a trail.”

For anyone who has lived for an extended period of time in multiple countries, Lahiri’s Unaccustomed Earth is a great read. She is endowed with the ability to capture in words the feeling of being somewhat untethered - fitting in neither here nor there.

On a somewhat related topic, this NYTIMES article explores the improved brain performance of bilinguals:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/opinion/sunday/the-benefits-of-bilingualism.html

Brazil and Mexico

Brazil’s Faces the ‘Resource Curse’

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-13/brazil-faces-new-oil-boom-curse-as-the-world-s-resource-engine.html

Mexico’s Rising Middle Class

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/mexicos-middle-class-is-becoming-its-majority/2012/03/14/gIQA9R0KJS_story.html

The World's Top 100 Universities - 2012 Rankings

The World’s Top 100 Universities

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2012/mar/15/top-100-universities-times-higher-education/print

Differing Opinions on Recent US Monetary Policy

Bernanke as the Hero

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/04/the-villain/8901/

Bernanke as the Inflation Creator

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-14/watch-bernanke-s-little-inflation-capsize-u-s-amity-shlaes.html

The Fed and the Treasury Market

International Economic Developments

Tom Friedman’s Fresh Take on the Dutch Disease Phenomenon

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/11/opinion/sunday/friedman-pass-the-books-hold-the-oil.html

India’s Growing Pains

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/11/opinion/sunday/how-india-became-america.html

China’s Rising Costs and Impact on Global Manufacturing

http://www.economist.com/node/21549956

Brazilian Shoppers Help America

http://news.yahoo.com/brazils-consumer-class-flocks-us-buy-073743218.html

An Interesting Fact from the Article:

“… As a result, Brazilians spend more in the U.S. than visitors from any other nation — around $5,400 per person in 2010, with experts estimating the number growing last year. Japanese tourists followed, spending $4,300 each.”

Emerging Market News

Brazil Overtakes UK

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17272716

India’s Elite Restaurants Try Something Cool – Down Home Cooking

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-17109462

India-US-Asia: Changing Dynamics

http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/india-and-us-pivot-asia