Monthly Archives: December 2011
2012 Will Be Better
Popular Economics Weekly The elements seem to be in place for a better 2012 economy, despite the euro worries, budget deficits, and 8.6 percent jobless rate. Why? Banks are lending again, and it was the tight bank credit after bursting … Continue reading
Greater Equality = Greater Democracy
Financial FAQs A recent Gallup poll said 82 percent of respondents thought economic growth “extremely”, or “very” important, while just 46 percent said reducing the income and wealth gap between rich and poor was extremely or very important. Yet there … Continue reading
Will Younger Generation Rescue Real Estate?
The Mortgage Corner Privately-owned housing starts in November rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 685,000, which combined with increasing builder sentiment is a sign that children of the baby boomers—the so-called Boomerang or echo boomer generation—may finally be … Continue reading
Consumers Regaining Financial Health
Popular Economics Weekly Consumers are spending for the holidays. Retail sales in particular have rebounded to almost pre-recession levels. Overall retail sales in November grew 0.2 percent, following a 0.6 percent boost in October (originally up 0.5 percent) and a … Continue reading
2011—The Year That Wasn’t
Popular Economics Weekly What do we make of this year’s economy, with its ups and downs that have confused even the ‘experts’; and what to make of 2012? Believe it or not, the congressional gridlock that caused the S&P Treasury … Continue reading
Austerity (That) Doesn’t Work
Financial FAQs It turns out that austerity doesn’t work, when it means tax cuts for the wealthy but spending (and so income) cuts for the rest of US. But austerity does work when applied to the wealthiest who have used … Continue reading
Elizabeth Warren’s Teach-in
Popular Economics Weekly What better way to understand Elizabeth Warren’s bid for Massachusetts Senator to replace Scott Brown that conduct a Teach-in, much as the OccupyWallStreeters are doing. She stands for what we all need, after all, more knowledge on … Continue reading
Housing Picture is Better Than We Know
The Mortgage Corner There have been some developments that tell us housing prices could stabilize and new home construction pick up in the New Year. This is even thought the continuing fall in housing prices has stymied any growth prospects, … Continue reading
