Author Archives: Richard McCann

Unknown's avatar

About Richard McCann

Partner in M.Cubed, an economics and policy consulting firm.

Repost: Higher GDP Growth in the Long Run Requires Higher Productivity Growth–St. Louis FED Regional Economist

US productivity growth 1970-2015

US productivity growth 1970-2015

A good overview of what drives productivity growth and why the U.S. is currently lagging compared to past periods. In essence, we have not had significant growth because we have not had technological innovations that translate into higher output. Bullard says that changes in monetary policy will not change productivity growth and suggests focusing on three areas (although he doesn’t have specific policy proposals.)

Source: Higher GDP Growth in the Long Run Requires Higher Productivity Growth

Reblog: What’s Really Warming the World? from Bloomberg News

An interesting presentation separating about a dozen factors, natural and human.

Source: What’s Really Warming the World? Climate deniers blame natural factors; NASA data proves otherwise

Could Trumps win lead to global carbon tariffs?

000_g34cy_0

Former French President Sarkozy suggested that if the U.S. pulled out of the Paris Climate Accord, that the EU impose carbon tariffs on U.S. goods. Many economists have suggested that this may be the best solution to gaining collected global action. So perhaps Trump’s win will actually further action on climate change rather than delay it.

Reblog: Inconvenient Truths about Landowner (Un)Willingness to Grow Dedicated Bioenergy Crops: Choices Magazine

Dedicated production of biofuels has been a Holy Grail for the sector, but this study finds that this is unlikely.

Source: 4th Quarter 2016 | Choices Magazine Online

Repost: ACA premiums at prices forecasted in 2009 – CNN.com

First, while these increases are eye-catching, insurers generally underpriced their plans when the marketplaces opened in 2014, and the current increases simply bring the premiums up to the level predicted when Congress debated the Affordable Care Act in 2009.According to the report, Congressional Budget Office projections from 2009 suggested average 2017 premiums of $5,538; HHS is projecting average premiums of $5,586. Indeed, premiums in many states are still below the cost of employer coverage.

Source: Don’t panic about rising ACA insurance premiums (Opinion) – CNN.com

Reblog: A true accounting of federal subsidies for solar and clean coal | Utility Dive

A detailed discussion about the successes, failures, and intent of these two federal programs.

Source: What Trump and Clinton miss about clean coal and renewables subsidies | Utility Dive

Reblog: Why Tim Cook is Steve Ballmer and why he still has his job at Apple • The Berkeley Blog

This post seems particularly apt for the electricity industry. IOU CEOs typically are “executioners” not “visionaries,” and this is at the heart of their existential conumdrum.

What happens to a company when a visionary CEO is gone? Most often innovation dies and the company coasts for years on momentum and its brand. Rarely does it regain its former glory. Here’s why. Mi…

Source: Why Tim Cook is Steve Ballmer and why he still has his job at Apple • The Berkeley Blog

Reblog: Paul Brown on the “optimization trap” and innovation | MAVEN’S NOTEBOOK

Paul Brown talks about how chasing “optimization” is a fruitless distraction, which I happen to agree with. We should be focused on exploring the consequences of different pathways and how to mitigate significant vulnerabilities.

Source: WATER SMART INNOVATIONS: Speeding up innovation in the water industry | MAVEN’S NOTEBOOK | Water news

Repost: Division on climate change follows ideology, not scientific knowledge | Utility Dive

Republicans and Democrats demonstrate similar levels of scientific knowledge, but they have different trust levels for climate scientists and the media.

Source: 10 charts that explain America’s divide on energy and climate policy | Utility Dive

Repost: Why Doesn’t the GOP Offer Alternative Solutions to Environmental Problems? | Legal Planet

There’s one thing we all know: the Republican Party hates regulation.  Republicans want to roll back some  key regulations and make it a lot harder to pass new ones.  But there’s a curi…

Source: Why Doesn’t the GOP Offer Alternative Solutions to Environmental Problems? | Legal Planet