The Cost of War...

I found these interesting links on how much the war(s) in Iraq and Afghanistan really cost us.

Both links below can break it down per state, city but the first link provides feedback of the other ways the money could be invested.

1.)Cost of War

I've included the information for the State of Illinois.

Taxpayers in Illinois will pay $49.1 billion for total Iraq & Afghanistan war spending since 2001. For the same amount of money, the following could have been provided:

- 20,522,595 People with Health Care for One Year OR

- 65,333,548 Homes with Renewable Electricity for One Year OR

- 1,010,890 Public Safety Officers for One year OR

- 856,843 Music and Arts Teachers for One Year OR

- 4,971,589 Scholarships for University Students for One YearOR

- 9,183,037 Students receiving Pell Grants of $5350 OR

- 356,210 Affordable Housing Units OR

- 33,857,487 Children with Health Care for One Year OR

- 7,271,943 Head Start Places for Children for One Year OR

- 755,108 Elementary School Teachers for One Year OR

- 716,692 Port Container Inspectors for One year

The second link is a running counter of the cost of war(s) (Iraq and Afghanistan).

2.)Cost of War (running counter)

Economics from Naymond Brice

"A dollar today, is two tomorrow."- Naymond Brice, "The Wire"

I am always impressed when David Simon and Co. insert economic and financial theory in "The Wire". It's just one of those shows that challenges you intellectually because it makes the audience pay attention to the minor details and when the audience does that, they're rewarded.

Anyway, I digress.

I think Naymond and Dr. Greg Mankiw would have an interesting conversation. It's ironic that there isn't much difference in Economics from a corner boy in the 'hood and Economics from a Harvard Professor.

Here's a link to Dr. Mankiw's in depth look at how much his dollar today will be worth tomorrow under the tax plans of McCain and Obama.

A MUST READ!

My Personal Work Incentives - by Dr. Greg Mankiw

Size DOES Matter...

...in baseball ladies, baseball.

A great article about the market size of baseball teams, their total revenue, and players salary.

Here's an excerpt:

”Salaries should be understood in terms of profitability to the owners, not in terms of winning percentage,” says Professor Mertens. Such a concept may be heresy to rotisserie stat heads, but not to economists. Despite the Yankees’ failure to make the playoffs in 2008, the team made money, lots of it. More important to understanding baseball as a hugely profitable mega-business is understanding the importance not just of ARod to baseball, but of the Yankees brand itself. According to Professor Mertens “everyone wins when the Yankees win.”

http://seamheads.com/blog/2008/10/09/baseball-economics-size-matters-true-or-false/