Monday, Mar. 07, 2011

Econbrowser

I read Econbrowser every day. But even those who don't might still recognize the name of one of the co-authors if they ever took an advanced economics course. Econbrowser co-author and UC San Diego professor James Hamilton literally wrote the textbook on using math in economic research.

The authors, who also include Menzie Chinn, an economics professor at the University of Wisconsin, cover many macroeconomic issues in an understandable and straightforward manner. Chinn focuses on public policy, and he frequently writes about current topics like the economic impact of stimulus spending and the deficit debate. Hamilton's key topics include business cycles, monetary policy and oil economics, the last of which has made Hamilton a must-read as of late. His analysis shows the events in Libya, and the Middle East in general, so far "are not in the same ballpark as the major historical oil supply disruptions," but he cautions that geopolitical changes might continue to spread.

McBride is a retired technology executive and the author of the blog Calculated Risk.