Hal Varian's Ely Lecture

Computer Mediated Transactions

E-mail and other tools allow for asynchronous communication over a distance, which allows for optimization of tasks on a global basis. Knowledge work can be subdivided into tasks, much like the physical work in Adam Smith’s pin factory. But even more, those tasks can be exported around the world to where they
can most effectively be performed.

For example, consultants at McKinsey routinely send their PowerPoint slides to Bangalore for beautification. There are many other cognitive tasks of this sort that can be outsourced, including translation, proofreading, document research and so on. Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (Wikipedia 2009a) is an intriguing example of how computers can aid in matching up workers and tasks. As of March 2007 there were reportedly over 100,000 workers from 100 countries who were providing services via the Mechanical Turk (Pontin 2007)

Which bloggers are attending AEA

Assorted on AEA meetings- will keep updating;

Healthcare Economist;

Joseph Stiglitz will give the keynote address on “Homoeconomicus: The Impact of the Economic Crisis on Economic Theory.”

Of interest to above: The Current Economic Crisis and Lessons for Economic Theory Eastern Economic Journal, forthcoming

Tweedledumb and Tweedledangerous

Can you guess how many Austrian economists made the AEA calendar?

Environmental Economist;

As scientists struggle to predict exactly how global climate change will affect our environment, economists are grappling with another question: How well can humans adapt?

Arnold Kling;

I agree with his view that the housing bubble was caused much more by regulatory failure than monetary policy failure

Harvard’s Feldstein: Economy Might Run Out of Steam in ‘10

Krugman on the State of the Economy

Report from AEA meeting, Part I

A Daddy’s Dream: The AEA Economists Calendar

No to Bernanke

AEA Humor Session

AEA 2010 Papers Tag Cloud: Look Ma, We’re Relevant!