Binay, the poor, and changing from a rent seeking society to a competitive society

Posted by josephivo on October 19, 2014 · 25 Comments 

By josephivo Rent The word rent has a long history. Here we use it in its more modern definition, e.g. according to Robert Tollison (1982), economic rents are “excess returns” above the “normal levels” that are generated in competitive markets. More specifically, a rent is “a return in excess of the resource owner’s opportunity cost”. Joseph … Continue reading →

Category Economy, Philippine Government, Philippine Politics

Noynoy Aquino, a kaleidoscopic president

Posted by JoeAm on September 29, 2014 · 70 Comments 

“You gone yellow-zombie on us, Joe?” Yeah, yeah. Sorry, I can’t help myself. I’ve gone patriotic on the Philippines. I can’t figure out how the nation can get stronger when so many Filipinos insist on diminishing their country and its leadership. Just as the nation is rising. “Born to lose“ So I push back. If you are inspired by failure, … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Crime/Corruption, Economy, Philippine Government, Philippine Politics

Manila is to New York as Davao is to Los Angeles

Posted by JoeAm on September 19, 2014 · 55 Comments 

A man’s dreams should exceed his horizons, or what’s an imagination for? Manila is a like Atlas with the weight of an entire nation on her shoulders. She shrugs, shudders, and staggers under the weight of 10 million people looking for opportunity. It has long been this way. Shipping barons of the great shipping era, as the … Continue reading →

Category Economy, Philippine Government

In defense of PNoy

Posted by JoeAm on September 4, 2014 · 127 Comments 

Guest article by Dolly Gonzales Let’s consider first the Supreme Court, and in particular Chief Justice Sereno. Then we can look at PNoy’s performance as President.   SUPREME COURT “I ask you to judge me by the enemies I have made.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt In 2012, PNoy spent valuable political capital to impeach a midnight-appointed Chief … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Crime/Corruption, Economy, Laws and Ethics, Philippine Government

A battle of the gods in Manila: the Rizal statue

Posted by JoeAm on August 31, 2014 · 38 Comments 

I love the invigorating panoramas of nature, of seascapes and rugged rocky mountains, of sunsets and rainbows and rice terraces rising from sea to heaven, of glacial ice fields and storm-swept coasts and lighthouses in the mist. I just don’t expect to find them in the middle of cities. That separates me from Carlos Celdran on … Continue reading →

Category Citizenship/Patriotism, Culture and Arts, Economy, Laws and Ethics