Hedge Funds

The hedge-fund industry just had its fourth-worst quarter on record, according to one industry watcher. Hedge funds lost 5.5% in the quarter, according to Hedge Fund Research Inc., “trailing only the third and fourth quarters of 2008 and the third quarter of 1998.” More here This is not surprising – as I have mentioned before…

Details

Quote Of The Day

“If a man is offered a fact which goes against his instincts, he will scrutinize it closely, and unless the evidence is overwhelming, he will refuse to believe it. If, on the other hand, he is offered something which affords a reason for acting in accordance to his instincts, he will accept it even on…

Details

Pinker On Violence

I have just been reading an interview with noted psychologist Steven Pinker and three points were worth highlighting from this interview – How do you explain the decline in violence? I don’t think there is a single answer. One cause is government, that is, third-party dispute resolution: courts and police with a monopoly on the…

Details

Pinker On Violence

I have just been reading an interview with noted psychologist Steven Pinker and three points were worth highlighting from this interview – How do you explain the decline in violence? I don’t think there is a single answer. One cause is government, that is, third-party dispute resolution: courts and police with a monopoly on the…

Details

The Last Place Aversion

How does last-place aversion play out with regard to redistribution? In our surveys, we asked Americans whether they supported an increase to the minimum wage, currently $7.25 per hour. Those making $7.25 or below were very likely to support the increase – after all, they would be immediate beneficiaries. In addition, people making substantially more than…

Details

The Illusion Of Skill

Because our impressions of how well each soldier performed were generally coherent and clear, our formal predictions were just as definite. We rarely experienced doubt or conflicting impressions. We were quite willing to declare: “This one will never make it,” “That fellow is rather mediocre, but should do O.K.” or “He will be a star.”…

Details