Kevin Villani enters the dispute over what caused the financial crisis on the side of those of us who see misguided policy as a major factor.

Philip Greenspun worries about what happens when the marginal product of a worker falls while the cost of employer-provided health insurance goes up. Businessman Michael P. Fleischer explains how the numbers work.

Michael Mandel notes that consumer spending is up for health care, take-out food, and education (also housing, but that is a suspect number). Spending is down for gasoline and autos. Be careful on the gasoline number–make sure this is not just a lower oil price in 2010 Q2 relative to 2007 Q4.