Tag Archives: Income inequality
David Stockman’s Crony Capitalism
Popular Economics Weekly Paul Krugman is being too gentle with David Stockman, whose recent New York Times ‘rant’ glorifies the gold standard and denigrates government for standing in the way of putting “free markets and genuine wealth creation back into … Continue reading
Unemployment—Why Still So High?
Popular Economics Weekly What will bring US back to full employment is a very big question among economists. The problem is that the 155,000 per month nonfarm payroll average in 2012 isn’t enough to either absorb new entrants, or those … Continue reading
Two Percent Growth Isn’t ‘New’ Normal
Popular Economics Weekly There are many ways to look at the “weak” 2 percent growth numbers for Q3, though just the ‘Advance Estimate’ and so subject to at least 2 more revisions. But such weak growth isn’t due to excessive … Continue reading
Income Inequality Behind Most Poverty
Financial FAQs There were 46.2 million Americans in poverty in 2011, as median household income decreased to its lowest level since 2000, according to a Census Bureau report released this week that illustrated the toll from ongoing labor-market weakness. The … Continue reading
Why Do We Need QE3?
Financial FAQs It’s not hard to see why we need “QE3”, the Fed’s bond buying program to keep long term interest rates low. It’s almost an act of desperation. The Fed is the only game in town to stimulate growth … Continue reading
Romney’s 5-Point Plan—Very Primitive Economics
Financial FAQs Romney’s “Five Point Plan to Grow the Economy” that he touts on his website, is primitive economics almost beyond belief. It returns us to 19th century government of the few by the few with few regulations or insurance … Continue reading
Why the Summer Growth Slowdown?
Financial FAQs The summer growth numbers seem weak, and pundits are saying it’s due to the European recession (so lower exports), the ‘fiscal cliff’(employers uncertain about future growth), and consumers with too much debt. But the numbers really show a … Continue reading
What Has Caused Record Inequality (and Greater Recessions)?
Popular Economics Weekly Economists Lawrence Mishel and Heidi Shierholz of the labor think tank Economic Policy Institute (EPI) have been asking a question in their latest work that is at the root of our various economic crises, “Why did the … Continue reading
Employment Much Better Than Data
Financial FAQs The pundits and some economists just don’t seem to get it. Friday’s unemployment report was gangbusters. The gains were not just ‘ok’, per Marketwatch, or are at a ‘speed-walk’, per Barron’s Gene Epstein. Gains are in fact accelerating … Continue reading
Fair Play Benefits All of Us
The Popular Economics Weekly The idea of fair play may be the key issue in 2012—both with the Presidential campaign and economic growth. How so? Both political parties are jockeying to portray their message as fair—Democrats want to restore the … Continue reading
