Commentary on life and the single woman, crony capitalism, Portugal’s turn, turning excess into access, and one of the greatest baseball games ever.

The social implications of the increase in the number of single women. (ed’s note – one assumes for men too).

The Atlantic -- All the Single Ladies
Recent years have seen an explosion of male joblessness and a steep decline in men’s life prospects that have disrupted the “romantic market” in ways that narrow a marriage-minded woman’s options.

Related.

The Atlantic – The End of Men
Earlier this year, women became the majority of the workforce for the first time in U.S. history.

Related.

New York Times -- 'Marriage, a History': Lithuanians and Letts Do It
CONSIDER the story of Noah: all those eugenically suited pairs marching two by two into the ark for a 40-day, 40-night honeymoon cruise featuring high-seas adventure and no risk of erotic restlessness or romantic distraction.

Related.

Pdf below -- Making Marriage Modern

We have argued elsewhere that the ‘market’ and the ‘economy’ are different. The market is a wonderful expression of the genius of our species where human beings buy and trade their labour in the broadest sense of the word. The economy is what our community makes of the market with the intervention of its political institutions and cultural biases.

In the United States today the fact that the financial class has hijacked the political process is amplifying the unequal outcomes that are a natural – and healthy -- consequence of the market. Thanks to John of Toronto.

New York Times -- Crony Capitalism Comes Home
Whenever I write about Occupy Wall Street, some readers ask me if the protesters really are half-naked Communists aiming to bring down the American economic system when they’re not doing drugs or having sex in public.

Alarming signs that Portugal is next.

Portugal -- Europe's rescue euphoria threatened as Portugal enters 'Grecian vortex'
Monetary contraction in Portugal has intensified at an alarming pace and is mimicking the pattern seen in Greece before its economy spiralled out of control, raising concerns that the EU summit deal may soon washed over by fast-moving events.

 

Related.

CNBC -- Euro Deal 'Long Intentions, Short Details': Analysts
The much-anticipated euro zone deal announced in the small hours of Thursday morning is far from a complete solution to the region's debt crisis, analysts told CNBC Thursday.

Child of Paul Samuelson, Jagdish Bhagwati, always like to ask the tough questions, to everybody. (ed's note -- thanks to Charley of Toronto for correcting the mistake).

Project Syndicate -- Does Redistributing Income Reduce Poverty?
Many on the left are suspicious of the idea that economic growth helps to reduce poverty in developing countries. They argue that growth-oriented policies seek to increase gross national product, not to ameliorate poverty, and that redistribution is the key to poverty reduction. These assertions, however, are not borne out by the evidence.

Quote worth quoting.

“Less excess and more access”.

The Cardinals' improbable win.

Globe and Mail – Card Comes Up Trumps
Twice down to their last strike, the St. Louis Cardinals kept rallying to win one of baseball's greatest thrillers.