| What Happens to Startups in the Next Recession? | October 20, 2018 |
| We're in a long, continuous bull market. I discuss the business cycle, and what the venture and startup ecosystem might look like when there's an inevitable downturn. | |
| Fragmentation in Cryptocurrencies | January 28, 2018 |
| The proliferation of niche cryptocurrencies fragments cryptocurrency markets, due to mis-aligned financial incentives. I argue that the fragmentation problem is related to the scaling problem, and discuss how the Lightning Network might solve both. | |
| Implicit Currencies: Commerce Without Dollars | November 23, 2017 |
| I define Implicit Currencies and argue that most online content monetization strategies are aggregate conversions of micropayments in implicit currencies into fiat, and explore the long-term consumer protection problems this model raises. | |
| Apple and Consumer Choice | September 30, 2017 |
| I argue that one of Apple's key characteristics is that Apple gives its customers few, but great choices. I note, with concern, that this appears to be changing. | |
| Notes on John D. Rockefeller | January 27, 2017 |
| Robber Baron or Industrial Statesman? I discuss Rockefeller’s controversial position in history, his actions, and his motivations. I argue that he was probably a constructive force, but that this was a chance outcome that could easily have gone the other way. | |
| Two Cultures in 2016 | February 23, 2016 |
| I discuss the value of arts and humanities education in the context of the sciences, and call for more interdisciplinary work between the two. | |
| Optimizing for the Wrong Variable | |
| We don’t always set the right goals. Sometimes, despite our best intentions, we make poor use of resources. I look to the theory of attribute substitution for explanations. | |
| Sharing Economy: Big Shifts, Big Problems | July 18, 2015 |
| The rise of the sharing economy will change the nature of employment for a substantial portion of the service economy. I discuss this change, as well as the economic and social issues it may raise. | |
| Reflections on the Recurse Center | February 22, 2015 |
| I attended the Recurse Center, a ten-week retreat for programmers, in the Fall of 2014. I discuss my experience and conclude that it was an exceptionally good use of my time. | |
| Uber, Lyft, Who Cares? | October 27, 2014 |
| I discuss the proposition that Uber will achieve a monopoly in the ridesharing market. I conclude that the ridesharing market is likely to become fragmented among many interchangeable ridesharing services. | |
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