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Showing posts from 2011

Smarter than a two-year-old (13 years later)

I have a reflection in today's Korea Times . Smarter than a two-year old By Casey J. Lartigue Jr. I was reading and listening to music in a coffee shop when a Korean toddler approached me, unconcerned that I was deep in thought. He had been crying loudly a few minutes before ― the snot still running down his nose was evidence. Smiling brightly, awkwardly holding a smoothie, he was adamant that I take a drink. I outsmarted him and held the cup for him to take a drink, much to his delight. I learned that little trick from a previous incident when I lived in South Korea, in the late 1990s. As I was sitting in the bank, a little girl holding a bag of potato chips was staring at me. Thinking about the expats who then complained about ``run by hello-ings” of children, I smiled. The smile wasn't meant for the little girl, but she broke into a h

"New employee" Casey Lartigue

I just got a double hit in the Korea Herald ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION The roundtable discussion I organized featuring Andrei Lankov got quite a bit of media coverage by the Korean press. Here's the text of a Korea Herald article . As the host of the event, I had many considerations. 1) Three different speakers who all have a lot to say about North Korea 2) More people than I expected showed up. 3) Keeping the spirit of a "roundtable discussion" while having a lecture from Lankov and discussion with special guests invited. RAP VIDEO The Korea Herald followed up with a nice little article about our rap video . The Korea Herald, September 29, 2011 Signs of market economy in N.K. emerging: expert A market economy and new business class have emerged in North Korea since the 1990s even though their government will not acknowledge it publicly, a panel of experts said Wednesday. Speaking at a luncheon hosted by the Center for Free Enterprise in Yeouido, Seou

"We Can Do It" music video

I am the "referee" in a new music video produced by The Center for Free Enterprise. Here is the link at the CFE site. I will be posting the translation and other information related to the video there, so bookmark it for updates. Yes, I have a tough job. Who would have ever thought a think tank geek would be making a music video?

"Yoegi Anjuseyo!"

* I have a short reflection in today's Korea Times about an encounter with an unfriendly looking Korean man on the subway. It was a reminder not to be too quick in judging people in Korea. 09-13-2011 16:47 'Yeogi Anjeuseyo!' By Casey Lartigue Jr. The recent incident in which an American English teacher bullied an elderly Korean man and other passengers on the bus reminded me of a more pleasing incident from years ago. I was on the subway, taking the train outside of Seoul for a work assignment. I have the habit of standing on the subway to strategically position myself near the doors in case my stop magically appears. On that particular day, there was a Korean man STARING at me. Not just looking at me, but intensely staring at me. He had an incredible frown on his face. Not just for one stop, but for several stops the guy just kept staring at me. If I had known more Korean then I would have been able to curse him

Yogi Anjuseyo

People often ask me, now that I am back in Korea, how things are different. My main responses: 1) I'm different. 2) Koreans seem more open-minded 3) The expats seem more educated, but have many of the same complaints and are using the same analysis I was hearing then. Robert Neff writes in the newest edition of the Korea Times about the recent fight on the bus. He mentions: "Scribblings of the Metropolitician brought up an interesting observation ― one that bothers him a great deal ― the empty seat. According to him, regardless of how crowded the bus is and the number of people standing, the seat next to him is always empty. It is insulting to him that no one wants to sit next to him. "But not all expatriates in Korea have that problem ― some find themselves with unwanted seatmates." Seoul subway line 5, Sept 8, 2011. --Casey Lartigue, Jr.. That is one of the low-rent issues I remember from the 1990s. I have learned that Scribblings of th

The black race can't afford him no more

An elderly Korean man may have a story about a near riot experience from yesterday. Not the one that is circulating the Internet. Yesterday I was boarding the subway, a Korean friend called me to wish me a happy birthday (he was wrong, early by one week). I was standing, as I often do on the subway, and talking on my cell. As I thanked my (very busy) buddy for taking the time to call, an elderly Korean man softly tapped me on my knee about two or three times and signaled for me to be quiet. I'm not surprised about Korean men, whether sober or drunk, initiating contact, so I just ignored him, walking down to the other part of the subway car--and continuing the conversation. As I noted to my buddy on the phone, I wasn't the only one talking on a cell phone. This morning, I saw the video of a black man going off and getting into a physical altercation with an elderly Korean man. People often say that black people all look alike, but I guess in this case that I don't ne

Korea Herald article

I have greatly reduced my already slim chances to go to heaven with an article in today's Korea Herald opposing a universal free lunch program . Two weeks ago I was the MC for an event that brought Aristides Hatzis of the University of Athens to Seoul ( photos ). In addition to him speaking at a major event at the Plaza Hotel (photos), he addressed the National Assembly. Yesterday, he was mentioned by South Korean president Lee Myung-bak. Yonhap article in English , link in Korean to the president's bi-weekly address , .

I'm big in Tennessee

What a surprise--the folks at Tennessee School Choice have posted a series of posts reviewing the 2004 book I co-edited for the Cato Institute. As they write:"... Educational Freedom in Urban America: Fifty Years After Brown v. Board of Education edited by David Salisbury and Casey Lartigue Jr. Part one is available to read Here , part two Here and part three Here . Keep in mind we are only sharing that which really jumped out at us as enlightening, helpful, informative or, in some cases, profound, but there is much we aren’t sharing that you may find helpful by reading the book in full. Should we stir your interest to learn more the ebook is available for $9.99 Here ." The folks at the Cato Institute were kind enough to ship me a box of books here in Korea. Next time I am in America, I will stop by Tennessee to give a talk, and see if Cato will send books for me to sign. My chapter is reviewed in post #2 . CJL

Welfare populism: Lessons from Greece policy forum

I will be the MC for an event featuring: Aristides Hatzis, University of Athens Oh Se-hoon, Mayor of Seoul Moo Sung Kim, National Assembly of South Korea Sungkun Ha of Yonsei University The event will be held in Seoul, Tuesday, August 9, from 10:30 a.m.-12:40 p.m., RSVP ASAP cjl(@)cfe.org * * * Last Tuesday I was the host of a roundtable discussion with Prof. G. Marcus Cole of Stanford University Law School . CJL

Park Chung-hee: Dictator or benevolent autocrat? (The Korea Herald, July 20, 2011)

The Korea Herald published my analysis of Willam Easterly's paper "Benevolent Autocrats." Check it out at the CFE Website . Easterly questions if "benevolent autocrats" really deserve credit for high economic growth. The Idiots' Collective calls it "a must-read" piece. I agree. [Casey Lartigue, Jr.] Park Chung-hee: Dictator or benevolent autocrat? It ain’t necessarily so. That’s what New York University economics professor William Easterly essentially says about crediting “benevolent autocrats” like South Korea’s Park Chung-hee for high growth rates. In “Benevolent Autocrats,” a provocative working paper posted in May, Easterly 1) argues that economists should be skeptical of the “benevolent autocrat” theory; (2) questions whether benevolent autocrats truly deserve credit for growth; (3) and concedes he is making a losing argument because cognitive biases lead many to believe in benevolent autocrats regardless

Korea's kings and queens in government even control the temperature

Korea Herald columnist Kim Seong-kon  argues in favor of the incorporation of Seoul National University. One of the reasons he notes is too much government control now, including, even the temperatures in government-related institutions. He writes: 26 degrees, by government mandate. "Personally, I support the incorporation of Seoul National University. Currently, SNU faculty members are tied up with all sorts of bureaucratic procedures and government red tape that seriously hamper their research activities. For example, government regulations stipulate that all rooms shall be set at 26 degrees Celsius in government-related institutions." I don`t have a problem with the government controlling the temperature in government-related institutions. I do have a problem with government control of temperatures in private homes and businesses. If I want a sauna in my home, that`s my business. Or, on the contrary, if I want it so cold that I have icicles hangin

2011-07-07 Korea-EU FTA conference

July 2011: Once upon a time, I was focused on political and economic issues in South Korea. I was then Manager of International Relations at the Center for Free Enterprise, later promoted to director. I wasn't determined to stay in Korea at that time, but several months later that changed, destroying my professional career. In this particular photo, I was one of the organizers of a conference about the Korea-EU Free Trade Agreement in July 2011. A few notes: The think tank world is much easier and pays much better than founding and developing an organization focused on North Korean refugees. Sometimes, I wonder what I was thinking when I left that soft cushy think tank world routinely holding events at plush hotels. I can't blame anyone, because I left the think tank world TWICE, and rejected overtures to return to it a few years ago. Fool myself once, blame myself. Fool myself twice or more? * Parenthetically, some people ask if I take photos for Facebook. This conference was

CFE forum on Korea-EU FTA (Korea Herald)

Public forum on FTA on Thursday 2011-07-05 19:21 A conference on economic opportunities and challenges arising from the Korea-EU FTA which came into effect on July 1 will take place in Seoul on Thursday. The conference, taking place at the Koreana Hotel from 2 p.m., will also examine the current economic crisis in Europe and economic development in Korea. The event is being jointly hosted by the Center for Free Enterprise, a Seoul-based free market think-tank, and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty, a German foundation for the promotion of individual freedom which has offices around the world including in Seoul. “We picked the date hoping National Assembly members wouldn’t find a way to delay the agreement going into effect. So this is really timely because we are holding this less than a week after the agreement went into effect,” said Casey Lartigue Jr., manager of international relations at the CFE. Speakers at the conference titled “Economic Freedom

Korea Herald, CFE conference

1) TODAY: Korea Herald article In a Korea Herald debate, I argue in favor of legalizing or decriminalizing prostitution. See below for the full text. 2) NEXT WEEK: You are invited ... to a joint conference hosted by the Center for Free Enterprise and the Naumann Foundation for Liberty, July 7, from 2-6 p.m. As long as the world doesn't come to an end tonight then the EU-Korea FTA will go into effect tomorrow. The FTA will be one of the topics discussed at the event. I will kick off the conference by introducing the event sponsors. Please let me know if you are interested in attending. It is absolutely FREE of charge for attendees, we truly welcome your attendance. ***************************************************************** In a Korea Herald debate, I argue in favor of legalizing or decriminalizing prostitution. Yes: Prohibition is worse than the crime by Casey Lartigue Jr. June 30, 2011 The Korea Herald The South Korean government can keep prostitutio

Too Many Grasshoppers, Not Enough Ants

Here is an original rap video produced earlier this year by the Center for Free Enterprise . CFE is putting together another video, this will even include Casey Lartigue, Jr., in it. ENGLISH VERSION (chorus) ba bam ba, ba bam ba, ba bam ba More grasshoppers than ants "Ba bam ba, ra ra ra ra ra ra ra, ba bam ba Ba bam ba, ra ra ra ra ra ra ra, ba bam ba Ba bam ba, ra ra ra ra ra ra ra, ba bam ba Say 1-2-3 Go " Where are our jobs, that's the question of the day, but we need more people who can make their own way Who, what, when, where, the jobs created by who, always looking for someone else to come to your rescue Take the initiatve, create, there's no free lunch, too many handouts, country's in a credit crunch Spending money like you’re a drunk politician, we can't get saved by political magicians Too much debt, spending money like its free, but even the National Assembly doesn't have a money tree Tax the rich, that's what the scholars say, but tax enou