Supply Chain

Transportation is at the heart of the American economy.  When goods are produced or imported, they need to be shipped. These days wares are made often overseas; they then make their way on a container ship which eventually gets unloaded at an American port before a final trek over land.

(Thanks to Professor Chuck for passing on this article which inspired this morning’s note)

Remember when contagion was just the ominous title of a 2011 movie dealing with a deadly disease spreading quickly around the globe while healthcare professionals scrambled to find a cure?  The premise was that a previously unseen threat reached a critical level which set off a cascade effect, reaching many facets of life.  Could such an event happen outside of Hollywood?  In sho

Rivers are useful metaphors to use when thinking about an economy.  Don’t take my word for it.  Alan Greenspan, the former Chair of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), used the figure of speech in these remarks to the National Association of Home Builders in early 1995, address

The U.S. government is steeped in mystery.  But next month they may reveal some of the pieces to the great puzzle.  A report ordered by the U.S.

When a collection of tree trunks and other large pieces of wood sprawl across the width of a flowing body of water, we call that a log jam.  These naturally occurring blocks alter the flow of water mostly by slowing and/or redirecting it.  Sometimes this creates pools where there wouldn’t otherwise be any.  As these collections of water fill higher, they can begin to spill