Top 40 Economics Blogs of 2021
1. Random Observations for Students of Economics
Greg Mankiw uses his blog predominantly to keep in touch with his own students, but it also serves as an excellent source of information on many economics topics to those currently studying. Mankiw himself is the Robert M. Beren Professor of Economics at Harvard University, so quite the authority!
2. Macro Musings Blog
David Beckworth was formerly an economist at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Now, he is a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center of George Mason University. His specialties are monetary economics, international economics, and capital markets. He also has a podcast of the same name, and both the blog and the podcast ‘reflect his occasional musings on macroeconomic issues.
3. Mainly Macro
Mainly Macro is a blog written by Emeritus Professor of Economics and Fellow of Merton College, Oxford Simon Wren-Lewis. Wren-Lewis is one of the most esteemed economists of the age, and his blog is, as he says, for both economists and non-economists. It is an essential resource that mixes politics and economics.
4. Confessions of a Supply-Side Liberal
Miles Kimball, who holds the Eaton Chair in Economics at the University of Colorado Boulder as well as being Emeritus Professor Economics and Survey Research at the University of Michigan, writes this blog, which proclaims itself as a ‘partisan non-partisan’ economics blog. An independent who grew up ‘in an apolitical family’, his blog is obviously political but he writes that his ‘many strong opinions’ are open to revision and do not line up with either the Democrats or the Republicans. The blog itself doesn’t focus only on economics, but also on topics such as politics, diet, and even Kimball’s personal life.
5. Marginal Revolution
Two professors from George Mason University, Tyler Cowen and Alex Tabarrok, set up Marginal Revolution in 2003. Posts come out daily from these two esteemed economists: Cowen was named in an Economist poll as one of the most influential economists of the last ten years in 2018, and in 2011 Foreign Policy named him one of its Top 100 Global Thinkers. Tabarrok meanwhile has written for many reputable publications, including the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, with a focus on monetary theory, financial economics, and welfare economics.
6. Conversable Economist
Timothy Taylor is the conversable economist, but he’s also an author of several books and the managing editor of the Journal of Economic Perspectives. His blog focuses mainly on economics, but occasionally touches on other topics such as universities and students, and also history.
7. Naked Capitalism
Naked Capitalism is a blog written by several different writers, all of whom have credentials writing and studying economics. Naked Capitalism began in 2006 as a response to what the founders thought was the ‘obvious underreporting in the US of the severity and extent of the underpricing of risk in all credit instruments.’ It is critical of both the policies it sees as beginning in the 1970s under Reagan and Thatcher, which led to the 2008 Financial Crisis and the response which has come afterward, Naked Capitalism sees its goal as fighting the entrenchment of a status quo that has helped to fuel a recession which has ‘reduce[d] the bargaining power and pay of ordinary workers’ and has been ‘detrimental to most citizens’. This blog is essential reading for anybody who wants to understand the Financial Crisis, as well as what came afterward.
8. Econbrowser
Econbrowser is written by James D. Hamilton, Professor of Economics at the University of California, San Diego, and Menzie Chinn, Professor of Public Affairs and Economics at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Its aim is to analyze current economics and policy — as simple as that. Posts come frequently, often as regularly as every day.
9. New Economic Perspectives
Another blog with multiple writers, New Economic Perspectives offers economic analyses from several highly qualified economists, legal scholars, and financial market practitioners. Following the 2008 Financial Crisis, the bloggers wanted to weigh in on global economics and ‘provide an accurate description of the cause(s) of the current meltdown as well as some fresh ideas about how policymakers… should address… the continued weakness in their economies.’
10. Econlib
The Library of Economics and Liberty, or Econlib for short, is simultaneously a blog, a podcast, and a place for students and researchers to learn more about specific aspects of economics. Alongside its regular articles and essays, it sells editions of economic classics, posts videos of economists, has lists and definitions of economics terms, and provides suggestions for further reading.
11. Econometrics Beat
Dave Giles writes Econometric Beat, a self-proclaimed ‘resource for econometrics students & practitioners. A retired Professor Emeritus from the University of Victoria, Canada, Giles still conducts research into both econometrics and applied statistics.
12. The Enlightened Economist
Diane Coyle is a Bennett Professor of Public Policy at the University of Cambridge who specializes in competition analysis and the economics of new technologies and globalization, including extensive work on the impacts of mobile telephony in developing countries. Consequently, her Enlightened Economist blog is an absolute must for the latest reviews and updates on books about economics & technology.
13. Paul Krugman
Paul Krugman, a household name and heavyweight economist in the modern age, writes a regular column for the New York Times on macroeconomics, trade, healthcare, social policy, and politics. In case anyone hasn’t heard of him, Krugman is Professor Emeritus at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School, and in 2008 won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his work on international trade theory. He has written many a book and even more research papers on topics centering on international trade and finance and has also had pieces published in Foreign Affairs, Scientific American, and the Harvard Business Review.
14. Real Time Economics
Real-Time Economics is the Wall Street Journal’s dedicated economics section, which functions much like a blog. It provides news, commentary and analysis of both U.S. and world economics.
15. The Intelligent Economist
Intelligent Economist is a blog created by a former Economics student who wanted to share their passion for Economics with the rest of the world. Believing that education should be easily accessible and freely available, Intelligent Economist’s goal is to explain economics concepts and theories in a way that is understandable by even non-economics students.
16. Economonitor
Economonitor is the dedicated economics section of the Money Maven website, which provides ‘top news and trends from Maven’s network of economists and researchers keeping you up-to-date.’ Economonitor is written by Nouriel Roubini, former advisor to the IMF, the Federal Reserve, and the World Bank, as well as a former employee of the United States Treasury Department. He is now a teacher at New York University’s Stern School of Business and chairman of Roubini Macro Associates LLC. Occasionally others write for the blog too.
17. Thoughts on Economics
Thoughts on Economics is a hobby blog account mainly focused on Post-Keynesianism, Institutionalism, and related theories. The blog is critical of neoclassical and mainstream economics and documents the errors of both of these approaches. However, it tries to not comment on the politics of the modern era; rather, ‘this blog is abstract’. Occasionally the blog will also post recipes the author likes.
18. The Undercover Economist
The Undercover Economist is written by Financial Times columnist Tim Harford, and ‘reveals the economic ideas behind everyday experiences. Harford has written an eponymous book and has spoken at TED and the Sydney Opera House. He is also a broadcaster and formerly worked for Shell and the World Bank. He was made an OBE in 2019 ‘for services to improving economic understanding’.
19. Ed Dolan’s Econ Blog
Ed Dolan has taught at Dartmouth College, the University of Chicago, George Mason University, and Gettysburg College. Along with his wife, he founded the American Institute of Business and Economics in Moscow. His blog serves as a resource center for teaching economics.
20. Vox EU
Vox EU is the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)’s policy portal, and was set up in 2007 to promote ‘research-based policy analysis and commentary by leading economists.’ The audience and writers include economists from all sectors, as well as students of economics. It even occasionally accepts unsolicited submissions, and you can find details of the submission procedure on the website. CEPR itself has partners across the world, which work together with the aim of enhancing the quality of economic policy-making across the world through high-class research.
21. Worthwhile Canadian Initiative
The final blog on our list focuses mainly on Canadian economics, although it sometimes branches out to the rest of the world. Several authors contribute to the blog, including Frances Woolley, professor of economics at Carleton University, and Stephen Gordon, professor of economics at l’Université Laval in Quebec City, among others. It covers a wide range of topics, from macroeconomics to the environment to education, and even includes a ‘fun’ section for those times when you’re needing a bit of a break from the hard stuff.
22. Lars P. Syll
Lars Pålsson Syll is a professor at Malmö University in Sweden who focuses on the philosophy and methodology of economics, theories of distributive justice, and critical realist social science. An avowed critic of neoliberalism and market fundamentalism, his blog covers a wide range of topics in English, French, German and Swedish.
23. MISH TALK
Mish Talk is written by Mike “Mish” Shedlock, a successful investment advisor with SitkaPacific Capital Management. His daily posts cover global economics and focus on macroeconomic trends around the world. Popular and highly praised, Mish Talk is a must-read blog.
25. ROBERT REICH
This weekly blog makes an excellent general economics digest. Robert Reich’s blogging style is best described as easy-to-understand, thought-provoking, and direct. A former secretary of labor for the Clinton administration, Reich was named by Time Magazine as one of the ten most effective cabinet secretaries of the 20th century. He is currently Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy at U.C. Berkeley and is the author of numerous books.
26. ANGRY BEAR BLOG
Angry Bear once again makes the 2020 winners list as a multi-authored blog in which each author has his or her own unique area of expertise. Authors include economists, tax law experts, historians, and business professionals. The wide range of topics it covers makes Angry Bear a solid choice for readers looking for an overview of economics issues.
27. MANAGERIAL ECON
Managerial Econ is the perfect blog for anyone wanting to solve managerial problems and make business decisions using economic principles. Hosted by the authors of the popular managerial economics book Managerial Economics — Brian McCann, Luke Froeb, Michael Ward, and Mike Shor — Managerial Econ is the perfect blend of business and economics — and is highly recommended for those with an interest in economics and the managerial aspects of business.
28. ECONLOG
EconLog comes to you via the Library of Economics and Liberty and focuses on the application of economic theories and principles to topics including politics, finance, history, and pop culture. This excellent daily blog is written by Bryan Caplan, David Henderson, Alberto Mingardi, Scott Sumner, and numerous guest authors.
29. ECONLIFE
Econlife is a blog dedicated to connecting economics to everyday life. This easy-to-understand blog integrates economics with current events and history, and its authors strive to make economics fun and easy to understand. Econlife was founded by Elaine Swartz, an economics teacher and the author of Econ 101 1/2. This blog is highly recommended for beginners, as the authors’ enthusiasm for economics shines forth in its writing.
30. CAFE HAYEK
Cafe Hayek is a popular economics blog in which authors Don Boudreaux (George Mason University) and Russ Roberts (Research Fellow at Stanford University) argue against the Keynesian view in analyzing modern economic issues and governmental systems.
31. TRUTH ON THE MARKET
Truth on the Market features rich commentary on business law and economic principles in relation to current events. The blog was formed by a group of law professors and economists with expertise in both legal and economic fields. As quoted from their website, they endeavor to “provide the metaphysical subjective truth on abstract, concrete, and invisible markets throughout the civilized world (whatever that means).”
32. BRADLEY HANSEN
This blog, written by Bradley Hansen, a Professor of Economics at the University of Mary Washington, covers a wide range of topics including economics, history, law, and “other things that interest [him].” Hansen’s posts on economic history are particularly fascinating and highly recommended.
33. CHRIS BLATTMAN
Chris Blattman’s blog covers research and field studies in the area of economic poverty. The blog seeks answers to questions such as why are people and societies poor, violent, and oppressive? Or, how can such societies be led out of poverty? Blattman also posts links to diverse and interesting content on the web. Chris Blattman is currently the Ramalee E. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies at The University of Chicago, in Harris Public Policy and The Pearson Institute.
33. THE DANGEROUS ECONOMIST
The Dangerous Economist is a great choice for beginners and students due to its well-written and easy-to-understand explanations. In this blog, Cyril Morong, a professor of economics at Northeast Lakeview College, takes current events and uses them to illustrate economic principles in action. These illustrations not only depict the information in a digestible way but also show how economic principles relate to and affect everyday life.
34. THE DEMAND SIDE
The Demand Side, written by Washington D.C. economist Edward Brown, is a fantastic economic blog that reflects the unique perspective of its author. Having worked for entities on both the left and right sides of the political spectrum, Brown “channels the diverse academic and professional experiences of the author to confront the challenges facing the US economy in the 21st century.”
35. DONALD MARRON
Musings on Economics, Finance, and Life is a highly insightful blog that discusses economics, finance, nature, and life. The blog is written by Donald Marron, a former member of the Council of Economic Advisers to the President of the United States, as well as part of the U.S. Congress’s Joint Economic Committee. Currently, Marron is an Institute Fellow and Director of Economic Policy Initiatives at the Urban Institute.
36. ECONOMIC POLICY JOURNAL
Economic Policy Journal is a blog which discusses free markets, liberty, the Private Property Society Theory, and much more. It is edited and published by Robert Wenzel, an Austrian school economist and originator of the theory of Private Property Society, as well as the author of The Fed Flunks: My Speech at the New York Federal Reserve Bank. The blog also features a diverse group of other contributing columnists.
37. ARMSTRONG ECONOMICS
Armstrong Economic, written by Martin Armstrong, is an economic forecasting organization that uses the Economic Confidence Model (ECM) as a base model for its analyses. Seeking to explain the inner workings of economic trends for the general public, it researches “historical cyclical patterns and market behavior in timing, price, and crisis to better understand and identify potential future trends.”
38. ECONOMICS ONE
Economics One contains in-depth commentary and analysis of pertinent important macroeconomic issues; its complex material is better suited for more experienced economists. It was written by Professor John B. Taylor of Stanford University, and his impressive track record with economic writing makes him an excellent authority in his field.
39. BERKELEY ECONOMICS
This blog, featuring contributions from over 350 economic students at UC Berkeley, provides a wide range of material for every kind of economist. According to its website, space was created to “give voice to our scholars’ ideas and opinions in a forum that encourages public comment.”
40. SOUND ECONOMICS
Sound Economics is a blog that covers economic news, issues, debates, and research. This quality blog is written and run by the students of the University of Puget Sound and is supervised by Professor Andrew Monaco. The goal of Sound Economics is to “discuss economic issues and economic ways of thinking to a general audience.” Readers are encouraged to participate in the discussion and debate by leaving comments. This is a great blog for general audiences, beginners in economic theory, and readers who prefer a more interactive experience.
Source: Intelligent Economist & Inomics
