Great read in yesterday's Times about the economic and cultural headwinds to having a family in this day and age. The piece, "The End of Babies" by writer Anna Louie Sussman, starts with the mystery. Declining fertility isn't just a consequence of policies: If any country should be stocked with babies, it is Denmark. The country is … Continue reading NYT: The End of Babies
NYT: ‘The Anti-Hudson Yards’
A year ago when Hudson Yards first opened to the public, I found myself severely disappointed. The development, over a decade in the making, was hailed by its makers as the future of what New York could be. Gleaming towers, space for commerce, public parks and transit linkages. But when the doors opened, it was … Continue reading NYT: ‘The Anti-Hudson Yards’
When an economist goes to Burning Man
A Nobel prize winning economist, an urban planner named Coyote, and a New York Times reporter venture into the desert... No, it’s not the setup to a joke. On the contrary, it’s the framing for an interesting profile of Paul Romer, 2018 winner of the Nobel prize in economics, in yesterday’s Times, who is attending … Continue reading When an economist goes to Burning Man
Asks lawyer: If companies are people, shouldn’t we stop mandating they behave like ‘sociopaths’?
What if instead of just maximizing profits for shareholders, companies were legally required to adopt and adhere to codes of ethics governing their responsibilities to employees, customers, communities and the future? That's the provocative idea from Jamie Gamble, a partner at Simpson Thatcher and longtime counsel to some of the Fortune 100s biggest names, according … Continue reading Asks lawyer: If companies are people, shouldn’t we stop mandating they behave like ‘sociopaths’?
Towards social policy rooted in social networks (the IRL kind)
It's 2059. The results of a study on the ability of genetic engineering to help poor kids escape poverty are out and they're not pretty. It turns out that even a high IQ can't overcome structural inequality. Or, at least that's the scenario presented as part of a new oped series from the Times, which … Continue reading Towards social policy rooted in social networks (the IRL kind)
Journal News (LoHud.com): What We Can Learn From Peekskill’s Revival
Originally Published in The Journal News (LoHud.com), Friday, May 24, 2019. Let me start with a confession: I haven’t lived in the lower Hudson Valley for the past 10 years. But my parents still do. And every time I’m back to visit, I can’t get over the transformation in the river towns, particularly Peekskill, near … Continue reading Journal News (LoHud.com): What We Can Learn From Peekskill’s Revival
Overcoming the “Overwork Premium”
Taking the subway home from work at 8:30pm the other day, it was only too appropriate that I would come across a Times article documenting the “overwork premium” – that is, the phenomenon of lavishly rewarding workers for working excessively long hours. That might sound like a good problem to have. And to be clear, … Continue reading Overcoming the “Overwork Premium”
When Silicon Valley comes to Kansas
There was an interesting article in the Times yesterday: evidently parents and kids in Kansas are in open rebellion against a Mark Zuckerberg-backed education software called Summit which has been rolled out across their schools. Initially heralded as a way to support "personalized" education in school districts hurting for resources, the software is now being … Continue reading When Silicon Valley comes to Kansas
Why Social Capital Matters
A few weeks ago, I was asked to give a "persuasive talk" at work. I decided to share an overview of this project, and argued that when it comes to our personal philosophies and politics, we should prioritize community connections -- and not just meritocratic gain. I don't know how persuasive I was. But here … Continue reading Why Social Capital Matters
Cleveland Plain Dealer: Why Sen. Sherrod Brown’s ‘dignity of work’ message resonates with voters
Originally Published: Cleveland Plain Dealer (January 9, 2019) NEW YORK -- As an unabashed progressive recently re-elected in an increasingly red state, Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown thinks he may have a message to heal our urban-rural divide. “I won my election because I talk about the dignity of work," he told NBC-TV’s Chuck Todd shortly after Election … Continue reading Cleveland Plain Dealer: Why Sen. Sherrod Brown’s ‘dignity of work’ message resonates with voters
Bernie Zipprich 