Interesting blog bits

1. Ed Dolan on Why we are losing the war on drugs

   No one who has ever taken Econ 101, or read the works of Friedrich Hayek, should be the least bit surprised. The drug cartels are strong because the US strategy in the drug wars makes them strong. Here's why.

2. Roger Kerr on The Truth about Privatisation: Blog # 7

   You often hear the suggestion that if state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are sold, the government should limit shareholding to ‘Kiwi mums and dads’. In short, not a good move.

3. Tim Worstall on Why we need more markets and less government

   William Baumol, that’s why.

4. Thorvaldur Gylfason on Oil-spill economics: How Ghana can succeed

   And its not what you think. Ghana is about to become a major oil producer. The country’s newfound oil is expected to bring in many billions of dollars, changing the face of its economy. Ghana is the first African country where a major oil discovery is greeted by a well-functioning, albeit young, democracy. This column outlines how it can avoid the resource curse and take full advantage of this historic opportunity.

5. Bjorn Lomborg points out that 'Earth Hour' won't change the world

   There is a certain irony in renting brightly lit advertising space to exhort us to save electricity for one hour — but this is apparently lost on the organizers.

6. Mark Perry at Carpe Diem brings to our attention these clips of Milton Friedman.

   See here, here, and here.

7. PJ Byrne on To have or to be? A reflection on the anti-cuts march

   Byrne reflects on the recent anti-cuts march in London and the rhetoric used by Labour leader Ed Miliband. The movement's materialism and disregard for ideas, says Byrne, will be its undoing.

8. Henry Overman asks, How did London get away with it?

   When the global crisis hit, many predicted that London would suffer more than other parts of the UK, given the city’s reliance on the financial services industry. This column explores how the UK capital’s economy suffered far less than the rest of the country.

9. John Taylor on A Good Exit Strategy Proposed by Philadelphia Fed President Plosser

   Charles Plosser, President of the Philadelphia Fed, proposed an exit strategy for the Fed. It’s the first explicit exit strategy to be put forth by a member of the FOMC, so it deserves careful consideration and discussion.