Monday, August 07, 2023

Graz Kafkaeque Tax Board Meetings: Sam Peltzman happy piness

Graz


Tax agency’s board meetings held inside PwC



Sam Peltzman on American happiness

Sam is still writing good papers:

Since 1972 the General Social Survey (GSS) has asked a representative sample of US adults “… [are] you …very happy, pretty happy, or not too happy?” Overall, the population is reasonably happy even after a mild recent decline. I focus on differences along standard socio demographic dimensions: age, race, gender, education, marital status income and geography. I also explore political and social differences. Being married is the most important differentiator with a 30-percentage point happy-unhappy gap over the unmarried. Income is also important, but Easterlin’s (1974) paradox applies: the rich are much happier than the poor at any moment, but income growth doesn’t matter. Education and racial differences are also consequential, though the black-white gap has narrowed substantially. Geographic, gender and age differences have been relatively unimportant, though old-age unhappiness may be emerging. Conservatives are distinctly happier than liberals as are people who trust others or the Federal government. All above differences survive control for other differences.

Here is the SSRN link


 Illegal medical lab containing bioengineered mice and infectious agents including HIV and herpes discovered in California Insider. A good round-up. Lots of speculation on the company, “Prestige Biotech,” and its owner “Wang Zhaolin.”


How to Forget the Lessons of the Pandemic Matt Stoller, BIG. Well worth a read, and filed here for a reason


Digital oligarchs have weaponised the banksUnherd


Why Elite Colleges Do Affirmative Action For the Rich Eric Levitz, New York Magazine