How to Help the Working Poor

Click here to read my column in Sunday's NY Times.

A Tribute to Ben Bernanke

US Mess, EU's Problem: Refugee Crisis at Sea

Did US interference make their lives any better? Take a guess...

For many people in conflict zones, the coming of the year 2014 is hardly "new," let alone "happy." The depressing truth as we begin another calendar year is simply that various messes the white man has contributed to are in no way sorted out, and that foreign adventurism--especially the so-called "war on terror," is not yet finished.

We are all familiar with friends who like getting into you trouble. A few drinks for them and they become belligerent. The archetypal "friend" that fits into this mold is the United States as it engages in drunken outbursts that implicate others. As it so happens, Italian authorities have been faced with a huge refugee crisis at the start of 2014 as a "greatest hits" of American foreign policy failure has come to roost on their shores. This has been ongoing for a number of years, but the volume is unprecedented. Egypt, Pakistan and Iraq are classic sites for Americans sticking their noses when they don't belong, while Tunisia indirectly implicates the US via the latter's championing of the overthrow of undemocratic leaders. As it so happens, folks are wishing to flee these places. I guess the freedom 'n' democracy shtick BushBama keep yakking about didn't pan out. Wonder why...

The Italian navy rescued more than 1,000 migrants in the 24 hours to Friday from boats trying to reach Europe, authorities said, as an immigration crisis that killed hundreds in the last year showed no signs of easing. Navy helicopters spotted four overcrowded boats struggling to stay afloat south of Sicily on Thursday and ships were sent to save them, the navy said in a statement. The 823 men, women and children aboard the four vessels were from countries including Egypt, Pakistan, Iraq and Tunisia.

Over the past two decades, Italy, Greece and the Mediterranean island of Malta have the brunt of the migrant flows [being the nearest EU countries, especially to North Africa] and have urged a coordinated European Union response.

Part of Europe's solution to this post-GWOT refugee crisis, I believe, is "make America foot the bill." Let me ask you this: would the people of Egypt (where people keep dying due to political conflict), Pakistan, Iraq and Tunisia (ditto for all three) say they are better off now than before the US-led global war on terror commenced? Somehow, I don't think many will agree as evidenced by the number of folks fleeing these playgrounds for Yankee interference.

Make no mistake; things are getting worse in these places.

I'm back at the ASSA; you don't know how lucky you are, boy; back at the ASSA.

I am at the Philly Allied Social Science Associations conference now and over the next few days.  Terrible weather, great cheese steaks.

The publisher of my favorite textbook will be promoting the new edition--the 7th.  If you would like to get a peek, stop by the Cengage booth.  Tomorrow (Friday), I will be hanging around there from about 3:30 to 4: 15 pm.

Humor

If you will be in Philadelphia over the next few days, take note:

6th Annual AEA Economics Humor Session in Honor of Caroline Postelle Clotfelter

At 8pm on Saturday Jan 4 2014 at the Philadelphia Marriott, Liberty Ballroom. With an introduction by Benjamin Franklin (aka Mark Skousen) and talks by Noah Smith, Karl Geisler, Yaniv Reingewertz, and stand-up economist Yoram Bauman. Free and open to the public!

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Over on their blogs, Noah Smith and David Henderson have some compelling observations about respect. I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment that treating others with respect, regardless of economic or social class, is crucial to a well-functioning civil society. It is also simply good manners. As a personal code of conduct, I have long aimed to treat the guy pumping my gas with the same respect as the President of Harvard (or the United States).

I will take exception with Noah's idea that we should "redistribute respect." Respect is not rival. We can increase the respect for some without diminishing the respect for others.

I will also add that we should also do more to respect those with whom we have political and philosophical disagreements. Sadly, some bloggers like to castigate their ideological opposites with the kind of rude name-calling that they would never do face-to-face.  While the blogosphere in general is a good thing in many ways, I am afraid that it has often acted to diminish respect for others, reducing the overall level of civility in society.

And the World's Match-Fixing Capital is...Singapore [?!]

Shuffle up and deal and...match-fix?

The recent race riots in Singapore came as a shock to the rest of the world given the tightly regulated nature of the city-state. How could such disorder happen? Well, preconceptions about the supposedly antiseptic nature of Singapore may receive a further knock: It is only recently that Singapore began tolerating gambling--especially on Sentosa Island--to help lure travelers with a penchant for gambling away from other Asian destinations such as Macao. In reality, however, Singaporeans have had a very long tradition of gambling with it practically coursing through citizens' veins. Consequently, their attitude towards match-fixing has thus been permissive:

Gambling is so entrenched that to keep [Singaporeans] away from the casinos, the government has levied an $80 charge on Singapore nationals just to get through the doors..."No more burying our heads in the sand, Singapore is a nation addicted to gambling, as is much of the region," said writer Neil Humphreys, author of the football novel "Match Fixer".

"I no longer tell people that I have written a book on match-fixing or that I regularly write about football," he added. "When I did in the past, the initial response was -- without fail -- to ask for betting tips on upcoming games. That response is uniquely Singaporean."

Humphreys added that given its long association, match-fixing scandals have little "shock factor" in Singapore, meaning there's scant public pressure for action. "Authorities are doing more than ever before when it comes to match-fixing, particularly in Singapore, but the sad reality is... not enough people care," he said. "Match-fixing is just not a national issue that particularly registers with the average Singaporean. It barely registers at all."

What's more, Singapore being a center of global finance and transportation have made it a most suitable home base for shadier types engaged in match-fixing. While gambling is officially semi-tolerated, authorities have not really cracked down hard on match-fixing, However, that too may change as international pressure is applied to Singapore-based match-fixers:

It's one of the world's smallest and wealthiest countries, but a deep gambling culture coupled with sheer entrepreneurial zeal has made Singapore a big player in global match-fixing, experts say. The arrests of two Singaporean men over a scandal in Britain has again thrown a spotlight on the Southeast Asian city-state, known for its cleanliness, strict law and order and high number of millionaires. Despite such advantages, Singapore is continually linked to match-rigging around the world, testament to a network that is proving hard to eradicate -- even when leading members are under arrest or police protection...

The latest developments are part of a chain of events set in motion more than 20 years ago, when Perumal started fixing games in Singapore before moving abroad to escape the attentions of Singaporean police.

"These Singaporean criminals recognised that there was money to be made in match-fixing at the low levels [smaller leagues where fixed matches are less likely to be caught], and later translated this national skill, if I could say that, to the global platform," said Chris Eaton, director of the Doha-based International Centre for Sport Security. Eaton, a former Interpol officer and ex-head of security at football's world body FIFA, calls Singapore the "epicentre of gambling in Southeast Asia".

Easy international transport, a passport accepted around the world and fluency in English and Mandarin have helped Singaporean fixers spread their influence abroad with the support of external investors, most believed to be from China.

It's all interesting stuff; but again, note that increased pressure is coming outside of Singapore. Its denizens, meanwhile, are more concerned about cashing in on the phenomenon. That's an entrepreneurial spirit for you.