Category Archives: Politics

Social Security Isn’t Dead

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Social Security isn’t dead, or even dying, in spite of the prediction by the Social Security Trustees that it will no longer be able to pay full benefits by 2033. That’s because the Trustees use what are … Continue reading →

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A Greater Recession, if Fed QE Ends Too Soon

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs The stock and bond markets are sinking because of Fed Chairman Bernanke’s seemingly offhand remark that the Fed could slow down its QE purchases of securities as early as its June FOMC meeting. Now Organization for Economic Development … Continue reading →

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Ben Bernanke and the Fragile Recovery

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs We know how fragile is the U.S. economic recovery just from the past 48 hours, because both U.S. and Japanese stock prices plummeted, and interest rates jumped on a seemingly offhand remark made by Fed Chairman Bernanke in … Continue reading →

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Consumer Debt Falls to Pre-Recession Level

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs The total amount of debt held by Americans fell again in the first three months of 2013 and stood at the lowest level since the middle of 2006, the New York Federal Reserve said Tuesday. The level of … Continue reading →

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Saving Fannie and Freddie—Part II

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs The Federal Housing Finance Authority that supervises the so-called Government Supervised Enterprises (GSE), now including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, just announced restrictions that not only weaken Fannie and Freddie’s mandate, but the mortgage and housing markets in … Continue reading →

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Austerinomics, the Anti-Growth Orthodoxy

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee has just said it in the press release from its latest committee meeting in an otherwise ‘moderately’ upbeat announcement: “Household spending and business fixed investment advanced, and the housing sector has strengthened … Continue reading →

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Will U.S. Growth Slow in 2013?

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly The naysayers are already at it. First Quarter GDP growth was 2.5 percent, slightly below forecasts. So many pundits are now saying it is a repeat of last year and the year before. An initial growth spurt … Continue reading →

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The Iceland Experiment—A Lesson in Austerinomics

Posted on April 27, 2013 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Today’s parliamentary elections in Iceland will pose a difficult choice for Icelanders. Polls show conservatives have the lead—a so-called Center-Right coalition that was in power when Iceland’s own housing bubble burst and its kronar currency lost most … Continue reading →

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Deflation and Our Plunging Deficit

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly The federal budget deficit is shrinking rapidly, says Goldman Sachs Chief Economist Jan Hatzius. And that is not such a good thing at the moment, since the private sector isn’t spending enough. It means this very weak … Continue reading →

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Signs of Jobs Surge in 2013

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Popular Economics Weekly

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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