big ideas – Page 16 – purple motes

comparing total harm from identity theft and interpersonal violence

Survey data, estimates, and reasonable parameters suggest that in the U.S., the total harm from identity theft is greater than the total harm from interpersonal violence, excluding murder. Among high-income countries, the U.S. has relatively high rates of interpersonal violence. Since identity theft can be perpetrated via global communications networks, rates of identity theft probably … Continue reading comparing total harm from identity theft and interpersonal violence

gift accounting tools

My friend Bill is feeling stressed out with holiday gift-giving. Bill works long hours as an accountant for a major performance rights organization (a copyright collective), so he hasn’t been able to devote the time he should to choosing gifts. He’s also got a rather complicated family situation. His first marriage to Priscilla ended in … Continue reading gift accounting tools

earth’s a square, heaven a circle

In China before the first century BGC, the ground on which persons lived was thought at its limits to be square. What was above that ground was thought at its limits to be round. Denote the first space as earth, and the second, as heaven, while carefully ignoring current ideas, beliefs, and knowledge associated with … Continue reading earth’s a square, heaven a circle

proposals for financial reform

A knowledgeable correspondent sent in two proposals for financial reform: The ratio of loans to assets that a bank is allowed (that is, their leverage) could be inversely related to the size of the bank. That way, there would be a disincentive for banks to acquire other banks and become “too big to fail”. The … Continue reading proposals for financial reform

confidential documents are costly

Confidential documents submitted to government agencies have significant costs. Confidential documents don’t contribute to public knowledge. Persons face significant costs and complications to access confidential documents. Moreover, the receiving agency has to follow special, relatively expensive procedures for storing and archiving confidential documents. Both the cost of confidentiality to the public and to the agency … Continue reading confidential documents are costly