Tim Worstall

He has already been married to Thobile Vilakazi for 12 years and has 11 children, but did not specify who their mothers are. “I want her to be happy,” he said of Ms Vilakazi, who was given a golden wristwatch at Saturday’s ceremony. “I think getting married to her for the second time would make [...]

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Britain’s temperature would rise by the average 7.2F (4C) which would mean Mediterranean summers and an extended growing season for new crops like olives, vines and apricots. However deaths from heat waves will increase, droughts and floods would become more common, diseases like malaria may spread to Britain and climate change refugees from across the [...]

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There’s a way of getting hits to your blog. Simply look at Google Trends and then write about whatever it is that seems to be interesting people. I’ve been known to do this myself elsewhere. It would appear that Ben Leach at The Telegraph is doing exactly that. Within hours of the new ‘Googlle’ logo [...]

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At the ASI. All this stuff about curbing bankers’ pay. The only problem is, no one has as yet come up with any proof that bankers’ pay caused the problems.

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Here.

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Ritchie has, I’m afraid, managed to excel himself. Tim But unlike you I relate my comments to the real world – not one of fantasy created on blackboards who long ago you studied and I by and large ignored, having perceived how harmful their ideas were. as you well know I was not discussing grain [...]

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We’ve got your political corruption right here: GORDON BROWN was this weekend plunged into a “cash for seats” row, with the revelation that Labour agreed to give a union baron a safe seat — as the party received a £1m donation. A senior party figure has revealed that Jack Dromey, the husband of Harriet Harman, [...]

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No, no, no: This instinct broadens into wanting not to cheat, and instead to co-operate. No, that’s not what the research says at all. For this reason which you mention but which you fail to understand. Behavioural psychologists tell us that human beings come down disproportionately hard on those who cheat on the agreed rules [...]

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But dominating rich men prepared to subside websites and newspapers, as their predecessors in the 18th century oligarchy patronised political writers, will find that what they lose in profits they gain in political influence. That is indeed one way of describing Michael Ashcroft. It’s also a fair enough way to describe the Scott Trust. In [...]

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At the ASI. We worry too much about inequality as well as over estimating it.

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This comment doesn’t make it through moderation, here is something left at Ritchie’s. OK, so I’ve gone and looked. 15% is way, way too high. http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/gdp/2009/txt/gdp2q09_2nd.txt We have, for 2006, financial sector profits (not including  the Federal Reserve Banks which make money from seignorage) of 414 billion against a GDP of 13,398. For 2008 we [...]

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Reality may be undergoing some adjustment.

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I think the problem with her world view is this: …we are essentially a social democratic nation. I don’t think Britain is. For three different reasons. Firstly, I simply believe that we’re collectively rather more individualistic than a social democratic polity would suit. Almost by happenstance we started this idea in the 1650-1700 span that [...]

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Let’s be serious about this, sensible: what is so awful about asking the people of a country how they wish to be ruled and by whom? Nigel Farage in The Telegraph. José Barroso, president of the European Commission, has told us that the reason for the European Union is to stop Germany invading France. Again. [...]

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Ritchie seems to think that the golobal profits of the global financial industry are some $10 trillion a year. 15% of global GDP. Anyone actually know the real number? That one just has me gape mouthed in astonishment…..even at the thought that anyone could think it realistic.

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Do what this man says you should do. That is all.

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“Based on calculations by the Austrian Institute for Economic Research, such a global tax at 0.05 per cent could yield up to $690bn a year, or about 1.4 per cent of world GDP. This tax would not unduly burden financial-market participants, yet it would raise a significant amount of money to finance the costs of [...]

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Three generations of women in Suzanne Celensu’s lineage have been crowned beauty queens. Fancy that. Looks are inherited. Amazing what you can find out in the Mail. They’ll be talking about that nice Mr. Darwin soon enough, you mark my words.

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Farmers are being urged to adopt technology that allows “no tilling and low tilling” in a move that would also reduce the environmental impact of food production. Excellent. The Soil Association, which champions organic farming, criticised the Government’s plan, describing it as unambitious. It is calling for more farms to convert to organic production techniques [...]

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This promises to be fun: John Smeaton, who was hailed as a hero during the Glasgow airport terrorist attack, is to fight the parliamentary seat vacated by former Commons Speaker Michael Martin, it was confirmed today. The former baggage handler, who tackled a suicide bomber during an attempt to blow up a jeep at Glasgow [...]

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