links for 2008-09-03

September 3, 2008 in Links

• Michael Munger, Bosses Don't Wear Bunny Slippers, If Markets Are So Great, Why Are There Firms: Library of Economics and Liberty
  If prices and competition do such a terrific job of directing resources (and they do!), then why are there firms? Why are there hierarchical organizations that are internally directed by command and control, rather than the price system? Why not outsource everything? Why don't bosses sit home wearing bunny slippers?
  (tags: economics collaboration business markets market firms firm)
• Michael Munger, Planning Order, Causing Chaos, Transantiago: Library of Economics and Liberty
  Here is the real problem with the "greed is always bad, public provision is always good" perspective. As James Buchanan pointed out in "Politics Without Romance," it makes no sense to assume that, under some circumstances (private buses), people are greedy, and under others (government buses), people are benevolent. The fact is that in both cases people behave purposively, pursuing their own goals filtered through the incentives and costs the system presents to them. Yet, the idea persists that removing profits and using government planning results in a kind of moral transubstantiation. Many planners think that profits are evil and would prefer a system that eliminates profits, even it means accepting substantial losses and no improvement in service.
  (tags: politics transport economics socialism)
• Is "Employee Motivation" an Oxymoron? – David Silverman
  The glow of the CEOs eyes locking onto everyone of us in the audience is gone and I have begun to think: yes, the warm blanket of World Wide is appealing. But the reason I want my own company is because I want the fire he had for his job. And I wonder, is it possible to ever feel that way about a big company if you are anywhere but at the top or on the way there?

  What do you think? Can a big company job fulfill the entrepreneur's need for passion about what they do? Or is it mistake to think that a big company will ever return the effort given by any employee outside of the executive suite?

  (tags: business people HR career)
• Overated Outcast: How to spend tax payers money – Indian style
  Doesn’t matter that the families of those soldiers who die at the hands of terrorists have nothing to eat. That’s okay. However, we will not rest until every sportsmen in the country who can afford to drive a Mercedes, is given all the taxpayer money we can spare. And we can spare a lot of money ya know. India is shining, bitch. So what if a few farmers kill themselves and war widows have to scrape to feed their families?…
  If kids get to know about how babies are born, they would rush out of their classroom that instant and start bumping uglies (i.e. having sex, making love, whatever you westernized unpatriotic basteds call it). This promoted our culture of not acknowledging the mere facts of life. In India, there is NO s*x. Only Immaculate Conception takes place. Praise the lord. Sex is immoral. Like rock music and decaf coffee.
  (tags: humor satire money politics)
• The Kindle and DRM
  However, I have one problem with the Kindle. DRM.
  I view the Kindle as a pure substitute for a book. The way a book works is that I can read it and – when I'm done – I can give it to Amy to read. She can then give it to a friend of her's to read. Or put it on her bookshelf.
  I can't do this with the Kindle. I can read the book. I can put it on my bookshelf. But I can't give it to Amy.
  (tags: Kindle amazon books sharing)