Category Archives: Politics

Signs of Jobs Surge in 2013

Popular Economics Weekly There are signs the jobs picture will be much improved in 2013, even thought the March unemployment report was disappointing.  The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported in the just released Job Openings and Labor Turnover … Continue reading

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Saving Fannie and Freddie Mac

The Mortgage Corner Fannie Mae (FNMA), or Federal National Mortgage Association, reported a record profit for 2012, a good reason to save the mortgage giant from dissolution, as the banking industry in particular has lobbied for. The government-sponsored enterprise had … Continue reading

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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

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The Decline of the West

Popular Economics Weekly Berkeley Prof Brad Delong has posted a very sobering essay on his website. Because the deficit hawks and austerity advocates now hold sway in both Europe and North America, we could be in for a very prolonged … Continue reading

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Ryan’s 19th Century Budget Plan

Financial FAQs Republican Paul Ryan’s 2011 budget plan is being trotted out by House Republicans once again. In spite of the sequester cuts and a declining budget deficit, Ryan wants to create even more economic austerity. Representative Ryan and House … Continue reading

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Consumers Key to Future Growth

Popular Economics Weekly The February unemployment report gives a big boost to predictions for 2013 growth. The unemployment rate fell to 7.7 percent, and some 236,000 nonfarm payroll jobs were added to the workforce (246,000 private payroll jobs, less 10,000 … Continue reading

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Let’s Bring Back American Jobs

Popular Economics Weekly It’s well-known that American job formation isn’t keeping up with economic growth, but not why. It’s mostly because corporations have been retaining more of their profits and sharing less with their employees, so that household incomes have … Continue reading

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When Is Federal Debt Not a Burden?

Financial FAQs The sequester advocates have gotten their way. The March 1 deadline has passed to reach an agreement to alter the across the board spending cuts and so governments will begin the draconian job cuts that will certainly slow … Continue reading

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Bernanke’s Fed Growing U.S. Economy

Popular Economics Weekly Right now, the Federal Reserve seems to be the only government agency focused on growing the economy. Washington has otherwise been focused on the sequester agreement, or how to further cut government spending. But such austerity measures … Continue reading

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No Double Dip Recession—Why Worry?

Popular Economics Weekly Goldman Sachs chief economist Jan Hatzius has joined the chorus that says 2013 should be a good year for growth, in spite of the so-called ‘fiscal headwinds’ of a gridlocked Congress and White House. Why? Because both … Continue reading

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