One of the many conundrums in labor economics is whether a college graduate has attained skills or acquired a credential. A diploma is just a piece of paper, albeit a pretty one; it is given only after a lot of hard work. But what does it mean? This is what we know: the paper may… [Read More]
Blog
Equatorial Guinea: “The Wonga Coup” by Adam Roberts
I’ve been doing this project of learning about Africa one nation at a time for about a year and a half now, and I have read a lot of academic books. In some of these small countries, the only people doing the research are those looking for more and more obscure dissertation topics. I expected to… [Read More]
I’m Charlie, and I am a warrior for free speech. So should you be.
I’m not Daniel Pearl, James Foley, or Edward Snowden. I’m not Steven Sotloff, and I’m really not Charlie, either. I’m a freelance writer with a specialty in business and finance. One of the most controversial stories I’ve written was about gray markets for quilt fabric. A typical reporting gig takes me to a plush conference… [Read More]
Thoughts for a Monday
It’s 5:18 am. My kid and I are standing in the garage, trying to figure out how to get the door open. The opener’s motor is making an odd sound and the door is stuck. We know there’s a way to open it by hand, but what is it? I wake up my husband, he… [Read More]
