Does Public Transportation Cause Respiratory Infections?, and Other News
Passengers who used public transportation infrequently had almost six times as great a risk of developing a respiratory infection as did regular riders. The latter must build up immunity.
Entrepreneurship lock: More businesses are started just after people turn 65 (and become eligible for Medicare) than just before age 65. (HT to Jason Shafrin)
Study: Exercise is good for brain power.
Hypocrisy, thy name is …. Federal employees are forbidden to collectively bargain for wages or benefits; instead, raises are determined annually through legislation.
“Entrepreneurship lock” is intersting. It’s like “job lock.” One more way in which a screwed up health care system distorts economic choices.
Why hold back? Hypocrisy thy name is Obama.
The risk with determining wages through the political process is that the some functions of the state are handed out as political rewards for loyal constituencies.
Whether it’s teachers unions, public employees or trial lawyers… the Democratic Party is beholden for votes and donations to the extent that its members are afraid to make decisions that are in the country’s best interest because these decisions may not be in the interest of their powerful constituencies. Moreover, the problem is the same whether you are talking about Democrats or Republicans. The temptation to reward constituencies can lead to decisions that reward the few highly organized special interests at the expense of the many who are disorganized.
So exposure to germs makes you more immune? That’s an interesting twist.
Public sector collective bargaining rights are like pushing on an open door. Unlike the private sector, there is no opposing management with a financial stake to push back against public sector unions.
Entrepreneurship is interesting. There are too many problems with the labor market that keep people from innovating.
It’s ironic that the government is trying to sponsor entrepreneurship. It’s like a hotel chain sponsoring staying at home.
A possible restatement of the entrepreneurship claim: More businesses are started at 65 (when people retire and have the time) than just before 65.
Why attribute it to Medicare?