Several years ago I was asked to speak at a dinner meeting for some customers of a large insurance company. It so happens that another economist, Gene Stanaland, was the featured speaker in the afternoon […]
Read moreIn this article, Joshua Brown argues that the impacts of Greek default are likely to be small. He correctly points out that Greece’s economy is really pretty small in the scheme of things. But does […]
Read moreHere’s what the OECD has to say about the global economy: But the global economy can be characterised (sic) as only achieving a muddling-through “B-minus ” grade. Global growth in the first quarter of 2015 […]
Read moreI saw this Kaufman Foundation article that argues that, by reducing the downside risks, an aggressive government-provided safety net promoted entrepreneurship, jobs, and economic growth. If one follows the links, there is some empirical support for […]
Read moreSince the dismal first-quarter GDP was revised down, we’ve heard all sorts of excuses. These include bad winter weather and problems in the seasonal adjustment process. The bad-winter excuse has been popular for several winters […]
Read moreThe California Center for Jobs and the Economy has released a report comparing Los Angeles County’s economy with the Bay Area’s growth. Needless to say, Los Angeles doesn’t look good in the comparisons. Early on, […]
Read moreThis analysis suggest that low oil prices will likely persist. It seems that U.S. firms are more competitive than previously thought: But U.S. firms haven’t assumed that role as readily as the Saudis would have […]
Read moreThe folks at Chapman University have produced an important new paper. We’ve said for a long time that reducing California’s Carbon Emissions is both expensive and futile, if the goal is to reduce global atmospheric carbon. Here’s what […]
Read moreIt’s generally agreed that excessively lax lending standards were major contributors to the financial crisis that precipitated the Great Recession. So, Washington wants to do it again, only more. Here’s part of what Investors.com has […]
Read moreIt is. Corporate welfare sustains inefficient old firms while impeding innovative new firms. In this Forbes piece, George Leef discusses the use of tax waivers or direct subsidies to attract firms to a city or state. As he […]
Read moreTyler Cowen has a piece in the New York Times today. He’s arguing that fundamental weaknesses and dysfunctions may be causing permanent changes, a reset: The debate over the economy these days isn’t just about income […]
Read moreDuring the buildup to the financial crisis, mortgage underwriting standards weakened dramatically. Although there have long been loans made with low or no down payments, or to people with FICO scores below 660 or even […]
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