Comments by "Daniel Larson" (@daniellarson3068) on "Econ Lessons" channel.

  1. I wasn't expecting this nutrition talk. Sad to say I use Canola oil. Olive oil is pricey. This was a good reminder to "Eat food, not too much and mostly plants." After this talk I'll have my green leafy vegetables tonight with their antioxidants. Good Reminder to eat right. Jeez - Vodka and bad food. Russia sounds like quite a place.
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  2. I made a comment here. It wasn't pro Trump. It wasn't anti Trump either. It mentioned his bankruptcies. Yet it's not here.
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  3. Good humor for a topic many of us tune out. Now what did he ask? He wanted stuff looked up. Non-neutrality of money is the idea that changes in the money supply have a significant and lasting impact on the economy. This is the opposite of the neutrality of money theory, which states that money only affects the price level and not real variables. Nominal money is the value of money in terms of its current price, while real money is the value of money adjusted for inflation. Sticky wages is an economic theory that describes how wages are slow to change in response to economic conditions. This can lead to unemployment and slow economic recovery. A boyar or bolyar was a member of the highest rank of the feudal nobility in many Eastern European states, including Bulgaria, Kievan Rus' (and later Russia), . Now - You don't have to look it up.
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  4.  @Conserpov Yet - 20 percent of Russian people do not have indoor plumbing. Perhaps they make some of this stuff you noted for a minority at the top of their society. It is apparent that few manufactured goods are exported. Nikita Khrushchev visited the US in 1959. At the time the sharp contrast between consumer goods available in US (& Canada) vs Russia was highlighted. It was expected that in the time since the Russian culture would evolve to better serve the wants and needs of the people. Instead the money has been spent on attacking Ukraine. Go figure.
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  5. Another good video - He makes one think. I'm not too hard on the populace of Russia. Their (Russian) society is all set up to keep them in their place. You see the fear on the faces of normal citizenry when they are interviewed. It's very hard for them to initiate a change in their government. They could be "disappeared." Then I think of most of us. In a generation or two, the finger will be pointed our way. "You knew the ice was melting. You saw the forests burning. You had options. Why didn't you do something?" If we did more to fix this global warming thing, we won't be "disappeared." It's a real "Whataboutism" argument.
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  6. This was a good explanation. Other factors hampering the economy are that some of the most productive members of their society have left the country. They no longer contribute productive activity to Russia. It was noted that the transportation sector is a large part of the Russian economy. It seems like this may be hampered by the Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries. While the discussion largely was about the production of goods in the Russian economy, couldn't the same negative effects be taking place for the Russian service sector? I was curious about Putin today. It just seems like he is running the country kind of dumb from a fiscal point of view. Even a dunce like myself can see that. So, I got to wondering how well Putin was educated in fiduciary matters. Wikipedia said he had a degree in economics. Go figure.
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  7. Hopefully, the smart people of Australia realize that this is a common resource that should benefit all. Norway does this with its sovereign wealth fund. Oil proceeds are invested in the future of the people. In US we often do not own the "mineral rights" on our land.
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  8.  @bevgroves8062  If the Saudis raise oil production,.......US may need to cut back. Tar sand production may need to cut back. But, the price will drop and Russian producers will cry out in economic pain.
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  9. I think you are right. You see things as they are and not as how you wish it should be. I've heard people talk about these recent tariffs and say Trump had some sort of master plan to eek concessions from Canada and Mexico. I think it's just a good thing that our neighbor countries have leaders smart enough to understand that Trump is as you describe.
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  10. Good Background - It's the Peter Zeihan thing and it works well. Perhaps this background wall is historic. Maybe, it was built centuries ago by the rich arrogant Polish Prince Trumpowski. Good Content too - The idea of the infrastructure of Russia falling apart reported by many others corroborates what was said in this video. Mysterious fires and planes falling out of the sky gives further credibility. However, there is a bit of a mystery here. It seems the loss that Russia is experiencing outstrips whatever gain they may receive in Ukraine. Surely, Putin realizes this. Why aren't the Russians negotiating to save some face and have a chance to truly restore their empire?
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  11. Thanks - Maybe we can learn something from Ukrainians. It sounds like they have the best of old time values.
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  12. Excellent transition in that video. I hope you're right about good triumphing over evil. Even if Putin comes out with a fantastic deal on these potential negotiations, there's still a good chance things will end up bad for him. He had people fooled a long time. The title of that old Who song fits, "Won't be fooled again." All the democratic countries on Russia's borders know what they are. The world knows too.
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  13. Comparative Advantage - I really wonder about that. Is unrestricted foreign trade really better? I've seen a lot of factories close in the rust belt. People do not seem to have the opportunities they used to have. I guess rich people make more money with the factories paying poor wages in other countries. Industry leaving has a ripple effect too. There is no longer the money from domestic production to support industrial research and development of new products. There is less tax dollars for schools and infrastructure. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. I think the "comparative advantage" thing we are taught in economic classes is an oversimplification. That being said - my gut feeling is that Project 2025 put out by today's Right Wing would not bring prosperity and opportunity to those of us at the bottom of the economic stratum. Thanks for the talk.
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  14. Good words from the swamp. We don't want to drain his swamp. When economists bat around words like "natural" rates of interest. My ears perk up. All this economics stuff is the workings of man. It's not the workings of nature. I'm not saying he is wrong. Russia is spending all their money on their war. Russia has a really hard time selling their stuff to the world. Their ruble which is basically an IOU for stuff you can trade for in the future. Their ruble simply isn't wanted. My primitive common sense tells me their money is no good in a lot of places. There's another reason Russia may have big time future troubles. They are an arctic nation. Global warming is visiting the arctic first. Russia thinks global warming may help them as they see the great stuff warmer countries have. However, as their vast boreal Taiga forest burns and the permafrost thaws, they may find big time troubles. They have big time trouble coming and they waste their resources fighting imaginary Nazis in Ukraine. Thanks for the video.
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  15. As usual, I think this guys is mostly right. My dad was no economist, but he and I used to argue about it. I was young and argued that the world was black and white, good and evil. etc. My father told me the world had a lot of grey in it. The phrase, "There are no absolutes," comes to mind. Economics teaches us about Land, Labor and Capital. I think these Academics in their ivory towers often ignore the most important variable, people. People make or break an economy. "Anything that government can do, private enterprise can do for half the cost." - Milton Friedman He was one of those ivory tower guys. (There are no absolutes.) I see the public roads, public school, parks, municipal utilities and yes the post office as government successes. I don't think private enterprise can do these things as well. The right combination of government and private enterprise gives success. Milton Friedman once had a television show. It was called, "Free To Choose." It was back in 1980. The TV show often showed the success of Hong Kong. Hong Kong is Chinese. They were very successful. All of China was very successful from 1980 until recently. It was their government policies that allowed their success. The Chinese have a long history of free enterprise. They were allowed to use that experience to be successful. I'm just saying not to count China out. When the Chinese see something isn't working, they are smart enough to change it. The Chinese CCP wants to succeed. They can change. The combination of government policies and hard working Chinese can make great things happen.
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  16. I'm not a numbers person. Maybe, he would consider me an anomaly. I can do numbers, but they make me zone out. I look at the photography. Statues of working people behind him. Did you notice there were no pickup trucks? I guess it's a good thing there are numbers people. Numbers make one see patterns. These patterns help you understand the physical world. In this case he sees the numbers that show the collapse of the Russian Empire. That kind of thing is important. Sometimes, I wish I was a numbers guy too. Good thing there are people like him.
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  17. Economics - "the future's uncertain, AND the end is always near" - The Doors
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  18. Some had no food. My mother lived on a farm next to a railroad track. Hobos would come to their door just asking for food. My mom said these men didn't cause trouble or steal anything. They were just hungry men out of work.
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  19. There was an economist from Poland, He appeared like a guy from a Rock Band He quoted Academics great work He besmirched Russia with a smirk He spoke of Putin's great evil and how Russia was due for upheaval He spoke of the diminishing ruble And soon Russia won't pay it's due bill With a smile and some great glee We were told that one day we'd see There will be a great Ukrainian victory and Putin's meat waves will be washed out to sea I saw this man was no dope and accepted his message of hope.
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  20. It's in Idaho.
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  21.  @johnm7267  The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact thing kind of leaves one to believe that they brought some of these problems to themselves. When your leaders lack honor, don't expect good things.
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  22. Within your discussion you were so close to the truth and finally gave it.. You discussed Trump people going to Putin's side and various imaginary reasons why. There is evil in this world and for centuries people have talked about souls being tainted by evil. In our secular time the idea of being tainted by evil is brushed away. Sometimes things are right in front of our eyes.
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  23. It ain't Lincoln's party no more.
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  24. Maybe the change thing is not linear. A revolution can promote quick change.
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  25. Who should replace Biden? Some say Kamala Harris would not have a chance. I would like to see her debate Trump. She would rip him to shreds.
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  26. This was a good video to start off the new year. How can societies change? Maybe, they are like individuals with problems. They have to recognize the need for change. A generation ago the economist Milton Friedman believed capitalism would lead to democratic change in China and Russia. Time has proved him wrong. I guess it's not a money thing. Do North Koreans recognize the need for change? Do stagnant societies fail after a time due to being simply unnatural? It seems like most stagnant societies fall behind and are forced into change but it can take generations.
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  27. I live in US. You just gotta admire Australians.
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  28. Yes - A few years back the US was starting to talk about Socialized health care like they have in much of the rest of the world. It costs a whole lot less and seems to often yield better results. US healthcare makes money when you are sick. There is no real incentive for you to be well. All that unhealthy processed food to make one fat and sick. Don't walk or ride a bicycle - use a car. The economy will be healthy but life will be sucked away from you. Selling stuff ain't about what's good for you. It's about them.
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  29. The Art of the Deal - Russia loses hundreds of thousands of people they didn't even care about. Russia gets to keep the land they stole. Russia is not punished for killing many thousands of innocent people and ruining their lives. Russia gets their enormous deposits in Western banks back. Russia gets to sell oil and gas again. Russia gets to re-militarize and conquer more lands in the future. Through Transnistria, Russia gets Moldova. Through Abkhazia and South Ossetia with the Dream party Russia gets Georgia. Belarus becomes fully a part of Russia. The money allows the Russians to continue their African adventures destabilizing governments. Russia gets rich while it burns the world. Donald Trump and Fox News tell the US public that they have helped do a great deal for peace. Many in US believe it. "Peace In Our Time." Russia gets the carrot. The world gets the stick. Good Video.
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  30. Beware the wounded animal.
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  31. Perhaps soon after the SMO is over, they may be able to buy gas from Ukraine. It won't be immediate as the fields need developing. Romainia may also become a gas exporter in 2027. Egypt has recently discovered and is developing several new gas fields.
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  32. You know - Reagan was a strong leader years ago. He did the Reaganomics thing People in US do seem to be getting poorer in the US in many ways. Some say it originated with his policies. Maybe that sound bite is right.
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  33. I like the number of times it was said, "I'm not suggesting this." Then many examples were cited where the practice worked. What if this idea was combined with a drone? If it began to rain hundred dollar bills, I guess I would collect them. I wouldn't greatly question their source.
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  34. Thanks - This one went way beyond my knowledge base. I guess much of that real estate that was discussed are apartments in old Commie Blocks.. It sounds like the system is surely "rigged" in Russia.
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  35. Well - It worked for you. It seems like a lot of people get help with 12 step programs. They get people to admit there is a power greater than themselves.
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  36. I guess the Deutsche Bank example said it doesn't work for corporations too.
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  37. This was presented well. I liked the story about the Russian Embassy. However, I think that Russia can be self sustaining. Why do I think this? It's simply because it was presented that Russia has had a secret police going way back in time to Ivan the Terrible. They have almost always have had their secret police. The comparison was given to the pepper plant in the pot versus the open field. The pepper plant can live in the pot for a long time. It will not be as productive, but it survives. Is this not the history of Russia? Is the pepper pant not sustained but at a lower production level? The video made me wonder. If everybody is being watched, there has to be people watching. I wonder how many Russians are being utilized to do the watching. It seems like this alone would be a terrific drain on the efficiency of the economy. Thanks for your video.
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  38. Yeh - Most of us don't know our Vulcan and Klingon history
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  39.  @JS_Precision  Lots of derailments for some reason and many are a very far distance from Ukraine. Russia is not known for its manufacturing prowess unless its vodka.
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  40.  @EconLessons  They've been in a bad way for centuries. I wouldn't expect sudden change. Right - no
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  41.  @snivanov  I'm a bit older. When I was a kid folks were allowed to say certain nationalities had what they called a better "work ethic" Whatever the root cause, different cultures do support the development of differing work habits.
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  42. Your numbers are probably good. However, I have a different viewpoint. Russia is a huge country. There are things they do not produce. However, they do produce the basic stuff that people need. They grow their own food. They produce their own fuel. Even today their infrastructure seems to be largely of that produced in Soviet times. They've been poor since the time f the Czars. I'm just saying that they can "get by" for a long time on what they currently have. People in the Middle Ages survived without importing and exporting a great deal to foreign countries. Much of the world was isolated for most of history. There are many remote villages in this world that are insular. I presume there are many in Russia. They lack indoor plumbing. Perhaps, this lack of imports may affect the centers of Empire, Moscow and St Petersburg, far more than the people in the hinterlands. When the de facto Czar asks for bodies to die in war, they will respond as they have for centuries.
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  43. So, I read through a lot of the comments. These comments are from all over the world. Most agree with Mark. To me this adds credibility to his remarks. It sounds like a conspiracy theory, but I've been hearing some form of this stuff for my entire life. There are just too many news reports providing verification. Even when they were communist, they used "sleeper agents." These agents in the West will remain loyal as the folks back home in Russia could suffer "accidents" were they to reveal their plans to Western governments.
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  44. "If they can be unified." - I don't live in Europe. I live in US. My grandmother used to talk about different groups of European immigrants not always getting along. Sometimes there were groups from the same country in Europe and they didn't totally get along. Not getting along brings chaos. Getting along brings organization and the achievement of goals. I sure hope the Europeans can get along and work together to oust the Russians from Ukraine. Here in the US we aren't all getting along so well. We have some leaders that seem to want to sow chaos. This will prevent progress. This may prevent aid from US to Ukraine. Another good video - Thanks
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  45. He's right about the peak oil thing. Check out the Hubbert peak theory. It's a finite resource. There are two factors that have messed up estimates when we run out of oil (1) The word "known" There are fields yet to be discovered (2) Available extractive methods are subject to improvement. Oil is a finite resource and becomes increasingly expensive to extract. I liked his summary.
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  46. Seems like there are a lot of Europeans running businesses in US. Could the opposite be true?
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  47. I see this over and over. Trump supporters will put in the equivalent of a sound bite. There is never facts or analysis justifying the reasons why Trump would make a good president. Could it be because he is carrying so much baggage and is a poor choice?
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  48. No taxes on barter.
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  49.  @postItNoteObsession  Thanks - Good answer. It is good that Trump cannot help out Putin. He seems to want to. It is a mystery why he wants to.
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  50. Some cities do not have roads to them. Check out how well their drainage systems are in many of their cities. One of the first things civilizations do is drainage. Did you know even the Romans installed aqueducts to get water where it was needed? (2,000 years ago) It takes little resources to install a well, a pump and septic tanks.
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