I have very seldom submitted articles to newspapers, etc. for publication. Nonetheless, here are a few articles I have written, some with abstracts and some without:
On Human Rationality and Government Control – by Emile Phaneuf and Carmelo Ferlito
October, 2014, Vol. XI nº2 2014 – «Procesos de Mercado: Revista Europea de Economía Política»
In this paper we first address a long-standing criticism of human rationality and what that means for the role of government. We review and compare much of the literature on rationality and demonstrate that various authors within various fields often mean very different things by the word «rational.» While we make no claims as to whether or not humans always behave rationally, we point out the flawed logic for what is suggested for the role of government as a way of addressing the human irrationality problem. Building on the Mises-Rothbard-Huerta de Soto tradition, we argue that what is more important than perfect rationality is purposeful action. We explain the dynamic nature of the market in which time plays an important role, and humans act with expectations to accomplish goals, learn from past mistakes, discover new information and modify their plans accordingly. Using Hayek’s approach, we discuss the knowledge problem in which data is dispersed among millions of individuals (unknown in its entirety to any central authority) as well as the problems with applying the scientific method exactly as it is used in the natural sciences to the human behavioral sciences. These problems combined, we argue, make for a much more disastrous system than would be a system in which often irrational individuals would be free to make mistakes for themselves, discover new information and take actions for their own betterment.
International Relations Glossary in Portuguese and Spanish
July 2, 2013 – «MyPoliSciLab.com» (paid website) and «InternationalRelations.com»
For IR scholars and students who also happen to be “latinoamericanistas,” this list of translations of IR terms in all three languages (English, Portuguese and Spanish) serves as a great resource.
Sowell’s Visions
December 5, 2013 – «Foundation for Economic Education»
In this article I summarize Thomas Sowell’s book A Conflict of Visions and Steven Pinker’s The Blank Slate and explain the importance of understanding the concepts of opposing world visions when discussing often controversial topics such as economics and politics.
Developments in Brazil Energy Sector
January 25, 2011 – «The Rio Times»
This article discusses new developments in the Brazilian energy sector, including the buying of Brazilian utility company (Elektro) by Iberdrola – Spain’s largest electric company – and plans to revive construction of Angra 3, the country’s third nuclear power reactor.
Slow Start to PAC Development
January 18, 2011 – «The Rio Times»
Brazil’s Growth Acceleration Program (“the PAC”) began in 2007 with a budget of roughly US$300 billion with plans for public housing provisions, improvements in sanitation, transportation, infrastructure and more. But four years later, only about five percent of the projects have been completed, and the second PAC (PAC2) is already underway with even more ambitious goals than the first.
Rio Real Estate Shielded from Burst
January 4, 2011 – «The Rio Times»
Real estate prices have risen significantly in Rio de Janeiro since it was announced that Brazil would host the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games. Prices are also driven by an emerging middle class in Brazil with access to credit for the very first time. Some spectators have rumored that a real estate boom and bust cycle is near. In this article, I explain why the boom and bust is unlikely.
UA Community Voices Opinion of Tibet-China conflict
March 31, 2008 – «The Arkansas Traveler»
Protests in the Streets of Sao Paulo (text only); Award-winning photography for this coverage (along with videos)
March 12, 2007 – «The Arkansas Traveler»