Ben Muse

How to buy presents for a girl

Megan McArdle explains: Two Shopping Days Until Christmas.  Who knew perfume was so complicated?

"Santa Claus's Trade Infractions"

Patrick Thomas and Tom Barry point out that Santa's Polar operations may violate international trade law: Santa Claus’s Trade Infractions. 

Oliver Griffiths explains why many of the presents Santa delivers were actually "Made in the U.S." or "Made in China,"  Santa, Elves and Comparative Advantage.  Griffiths is rehearsing answers to questions he expects from his children.  My guess is his kids won't ask.

Jonathan Dingel's post from last Christmas suggests the benefits American consumers receive from low taxes on imports: Christmas Tariffs.

Was Alaska Worth It?

Mounties marching in Juneau, Alaska.  Alaska might have been Canadian if Seward hadn't acted.

Did we get our money's worth when we bought Alaska from the Russians?

It only cost $7.2 million in 1867, but David Barker wonders if the U.S. taxpayers might have been better off without it: Was the Alaska Purchase a Good Deal?

We need more foreign physicians

Dean Baker makes the case: The Post's Protectionism Strongs Again: It Never Heard of Foreign Doctors

The New Device

A new Christmas classic from The Onion: New Device Desirable, Old Device Undesirable.  I certainly want one.