Place Really Matter$

We are in the midst of a massive economic, political, and cultural transformation in the United States. Some analysts see the difference as the growing split between red states and blue states. Others identify “haves” and “have-nots” and think that rising income inequality is the cause. Berkeley economist Enrico Moretti makes a compelling argument, grounded…

Conspicuous Consumption and the Myth of the Classless College

Costs in higher education continue to rise to the dismay of all.  One cause may stem from our desire to create open, meritocratic learning environments in which wealth does not matter. A “traditional” college – young men and women living in dormitories and studying full-time – is not how most Americans experience higher education. The…

Access, Affordability, Accountability – Stasis or Progress?

For many years the same key issues – accessibility, accountability, and affordability – have been at the center of American higher education.  A trend or crisis may distract us, and the media may tell us that this technology spells a sea change or paradigm shift.  All true enough. But if you look closely, the driver of…

Football, Smarts, and Success – Victor Cruz

Victor Cruz is an outstanding football player for the New York Giants. An undrafted and undersized receiver, he fought his way on to the team through talent and hard work. A fan favorite, Cruz has intelligence, charm, and an entrepreneurial spirit. Life was not easy for Cruz. Born to a single mother in a gritty…

If You Can Read This Post –

Then you’re literate and fortunate. And it is good to remember just how fortunate we are. John Wood is an unusual man who did more than remember – he did something about it. An MBA and successful Microsoft executive, he left the company after a chance encounter while on a hiking holiday in the Himalayas.…

Rendering The Abstract Accessible – Economic Theories Made Clear

Appearing  informed about contemporary affairs requires familiarity with economics. Being informed, especially understanding current political debates, demands real grounding in macroeconomic policy. Economics today is more than an influential discipline. Leading economists –  Paul Krugman, Jeffrey Sachs, Amartya Sen, Joseph Stiglizt and Larry Summers – are public intellectuals and thought leaders.  Many of the big political…

Awkward Hero

In 2005, Auburn University Professor W. David Lewis finished Eddie Rickenbacker: An American Hero in the Twentieth Century. A labor of love and personal obsession, the biography took Lewis decades of research. It is a magisterial tome, the definitive work on one of the major celebrities of early twentieth century America. Accomplished in multiple arenas…