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Category Archives: Economics
Animated Unemployment
A very cool animated Graphic showing the change in unemployment over the last two years. Click Image for Animation
Posted in Economics, Lance's Page
3 Comments
Taking a Closer Look at Unemployment
Employment as measured by the “establishment survey,” was down by 190,000; and Many feel it is an improvement that we are not falling as fast. Well, let us take a moment to look under the hood of these numbers. First, … Continue reading
“So how is that working out for you, Mr President?”
Good Friend Bruce McQuain picks up on a story I noticed yesterday. Rather than rehash it, I’ll let him lay it out: Greg Mankiw reminds us of this bit of fantasy: What we are not doing — what I have … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Economics, Lance's Page
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Uncommon insight
The Saddest Lede on the Internet Today. Says Ric Locke on his new blog. And what was the lede? “Americans believe that the normal state of things is not-violence.” Do you suppose that’s true? That that’s why we … Continue reading
Posted in Blogs, Domestic Politics, Economics, Libertarianism, social science, Synova's Page
5 Comments
Bogus Civility
Finally someone said what I’ve been thinking about this constant call to civility: Have we transformed into so brittle a citizenry that we are unable to handle a raucous debate over the future of the country? If things were quiet, … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Economics, Gov't Spending, Health Care, Race, Synova's Page, Uncategorized
1 Comment
Time for a Rum Revolt…
This just has me speechless… (or wordless…) Under the agreement, London-based Diageo PLC will receive tax credits and other benefits worth $2.7 billion over 30 years, including the entire $165-million cost of building a state-of-the-art distillery on the island of … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Economics, Keith's Page
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Happy Tax Freedom Day
Today is the day that we have earned enough to pay its tax burden for the year. This year’s day comes earlier than last year, though this is due to recent stimulus effects. Before you start to celebrate though, Doug … Continue reading
Posted in Chris' Page, Domestic Politics, Economics, taxes
Tagged obama administration, protests, tax freedom day, tax policy, taxes, tea party
2 Comments
To Big To Fail
Over at Instapundit, Glenn has been keeping an eye on both the Tax Day Tea Party and the New Way Forward demonstrations. Reading about what the left is doing, I have to think, that if the left thinks banks that … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Economics, Keith's Page
Tagged banks, financial crisis, government
2 Comments
Why the AIG Mess is Ignorant Populism of the Worst Kind
Via Greg Mankiw comes this letter by a Mr. Desantis published in the NYTimes. The government is spinelessly trying to punish the very people who’s help it most needs. It’s almost tragic really. I am proud of everything I have … Continue reading
Posted in Chris' Page, Domestic Politics, Economics, taxes
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Houston Tea Party
I didn’t get to make it out, as I work almost 30 miles away, but here’s the video:
Posted in Chris' Page, Domestic Politics, Economics, Libertarianism
Tagged liberty, protests, tea party
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They say you wanna Revolution!
Come one, come all. Anyone interested in attending a mass rally protesting the mess our government is, come join Hoosiers for Fair Taxation on March 25th at the capital building in Indianapolis. They are also calling for volunteers, and there … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Economics, Keith's Page
Tagged hoosiers for fair taxation, Indiana, Indianapolis, tax protest, tea party
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Pitchfork Time?? How about Shovel Time!
Glenn Reynolds ponders “IS IT PITCHFORK TIME? Dang, I don’t own a pitchfork. Oh well, they’re not too expensive. Maybe mail a bunch to Congress, first . . .” I think shovels would be a more appropriate gift to send … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Economics, Keith's Page
Tagged stimulus bill, tax and spend protest
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Late Night in the Halls of Congress
Well, the final text of the spendathon bill is out, looks like it was a late night in the halls of Congress. Interesting that they chose not to create a searchable PDF, but scanned in a printed version, with markups. … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Economics, Keith's Page
Tagged stimulus bill, transparency
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Two Cows Theory of AIG Implosion
I always love these explanations. Hat Tip: Megan McArdle
Posted in Chris' Page, Economics, Humor
Tagged AIG, bank bailouts, two cows, Wall Street
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Taxation without Representation
The current bailout mania, and the long going practice of spending our way into debt, ought to be considered the highest form of “taxation without representation” as the government is taxing the future revenue of people who, at the moment, … Continue reading
Stimulus: Spending vs. Tax Multipliers
Greg Mankiw has a post today look at the real world studies of spending and tax multipliers. Keynesians might be surprised to learn that the tax multiplier appears to be much larger than the spending one. Studies put the Government … Continue reading
Step Right Up! It’s Your Bailout Too!
I hear repeatedly from our fellow citizens “where is my bailout?” For those who have been wondering the fine journalists at Vanity Fair have found the paperwork so you can begin applying now for, as the application says, “free government … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Economics, Humor, Lance's Page
Tagged auto industry, bailout, Chrysler, Financial Institutions, Ford, GM, Hank Paulson, Humor, treasury
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Calculating the cost of bailing out the economy
Now that the NBER has decided to endorse my view that we went into recession last December which I first first claimed last January, I think my points about the efficacy of fiscal stimulus still apply. As for spending already … Continue reading
On Market Forces
(via: Inkcinct)
Posted in Economics, Humor
Tagged bailouts, capitalism, cartoon, comic, inkcinct, market forces
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A Solution to the Financial Crisis? Sharia!
Italian economist Loretta Napoleoni (of Rogue Economics fame), blames the lingering financial crisis in part on the American War on Terrorism, which inaugurated an allegedly “suspicious attitude…toward Muslim investors.” She goes further though, and argues that the only solution to … Continue reading
Posted in Economics
Tagged academia, academics, bankers, banking, case studies, clients, despotism, dictatorship, Economics, finance, financial crisis, gendr, home loans, islam, Islamic finance, Italian, Loretta Napoleoni, married women, marxism, Marxist, medieval, militarims, Muslim, North Korea, property rights, rogue economics, scholars, sharia, social responsibility, Somalia, Soviet Union, UNM, Vermont, War on Terrorism, women
2 Comments
Peter Schiff’s Payback
The insufferable Peter Schiff has a video going around, which frankly, is just brilliant. He may be unpleasant at times, but he nailed this thing, and took mounds of abuse while doing so. More importantly, I KNOW HOW HE FEELS! … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Investing, Lance's Page
Tagged credit crisis, debt, Economics, finance, Investing, Peter Schiff, risk
3 Comments
De-leveraging
Given the topic of tonight’s podcast I thought a little visual data might help. First, the explosion in US debt: Henry Blodget explains: From the early 1920s through 1985, the average level of debt-to-GDP in this country was 155%. The … Continue reading
Three Banks to Rule the World
The winners of the global financial turmoil look to be three American ‘superbanks’: JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo. The institutions have all grown to occupy such a predominant position in the marketplace, that all three recently … Continue reading
Posted in Economics
Tagged Asia, Bank of America, banking, banks, democracy, domestic deposits, Europe, exports, financial crisis, housing crisis, JP Morgan Chase, markets, recession, superbanks, Wells Fargo
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Going John Galt… quietly.
The idea of “Going John Galt” makes me a little bit uncomfortable, to tell the truth. John Galt essentially said screw them all, and shut down knowing that a whole lot of people would be hurt. It was about the … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Economics, Hugo Chavez, Libertarianism, Synova's Page
Tagged Ayn Rand, economy, Hugo Chavez, John Galt, Robert Mugabe, social justice, strike, taxation
14 Comments
Playmates during crisis
Does the object of our desire tend to change during tough times? Yes, according to this paper on men’s preferences when it comes to Playboy’s models: Consistent with Environmental Security Hypothesis predictions, when social and economic conditions were difficult, older, … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Lance's Page, social science
Tagged 2008, beauty, body mass, breasts, bust-to-waist ratio, conditional economics, credit crisis, Economics, Environmental Security Hypothesis, facial features, gender, index values, Jayde Nicole, Playboy, playmates, pornography, reproduction, sex, social dynamics, Tyler Cowen, women
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Laid Off By Lehman: One Broker’s Story
Heh, heh, heh.
Posted in Economics, Humor, Lance's Page
Tagged brokers, Humor, Lehman Brothers, video
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The View From Here
I wonder if the juxtaposition of that headline and that photo was intentional? Anyway, over at Risk and Return I follow up Dale, McQ and my discussion of the markets and the economy during the last couple of podcasts with … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Investing, Lance's Page
Tagged bailout, Investing, LA Times, the economy
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Are We Maiking Things Worse?
Yves Smith hits a theme I have been harping on, the Federal Reserve, and central banks in general, are making things worse in may ways by destroying the incentive for banks to lend or borrow from one another. She quotes … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Lance's Page
Tagged banks, credit crisis, Federal Reserve, LIBOR
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Stock and Awe in Baghdad
The Markets have spoken, the best place to invest in the world is…Iraq! Now it’s stock and awe in Baghdad! As the Dow plummeted nearly 700 points yesterday to fall well below the 9,000 mark, the Iraqi stock exchange – … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Foreign affairs, Investing, Lance's Page
Tagged Bull Market, Iraq, Stock market, Wall Street
2 Comments
FDR Prolonged the Great Depression
New Deal policies signed into law 71 years ago thwarted economic recovery for seven long years. Continue reading
Another Reason To Not Like The Plan
I have argued in the past that the Federal Reserve’s policies may be helping in some ways, but hurting in others. Way too much borrowing and lending is running through the Fed which is drying up lending between banks. It … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Lance's Page
Tagged Ben Bernanke, credit crisis, Federal Reserve, Hank Paulson, money markets
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In Summary
Tyler Cowen states his basic views on the crisis. My response in italics:
Strategery Capital Management LLC
A new distressed debt leveraged hedge fund has been launched: Go visit the website for all their competitive advantages!
Posted in Economics, Humor, Investing, Lance's Page
Tagged Ben Bernanke, credit crisis, distressed debt, George Bush, Hank Paulson, hedge funds
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When are we being Chicken Littles?
Let us look at one of the ways that we are being panicked unnecessarily, and why incidentally we can help many of these financial institutions in the fashion I discussed in my post on a potential alternative plan. In my … Continue reading
My favorite proposal for helping financial institutions
I do believe we should be doing something as a nation, through our government, to avoid the not insignificant chance of a total financial meltdown. I have seen several things proposed that I find interesting, and I will get into … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Economics, Lance's Page
Tagged banks, bond holders, credit crisis, debt, economy, Federal Reserve, finance, Goldman Sachs, John Hussman, Paulson plan, Warren Buffett
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Hooray for Mental Health!
If you support the Paulson bailout plan that is. The New York Times has coverage. The Senate proposal would cost more than $100 billion and extend and expand many individual and business tax breaks, including tax credits for the production … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Economics, Lance's Page, taxes
Tagged economic stimulus, financial crisis, Paulson plan, renewable energy, taxes
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The Monetary Base Finally Moves
The Federal Reserve has for a long time eschewed increasing the money supply directly, and instead has manipulated credit to affect the economy and control inflation. This has led to three important things which are in my opinion at the … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Lance's Page
Tagged Debt crisis, Federal Reserve, leverage, monetray policy, treasury
3 Comments
We are led by little men and women
I was not in favor of the Paulson plan if you haven’t caught that yet. Still, the pitiful display from our congress today set a recent low. First, faced with an unpopular and contentious bill which she feels for the … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Economics, Lance's Page
Tagged bailout, congress, Democrats, John Boehner, Nancy Pelosi, Paulson plan, Republicans
1 Comment
The Bailout…
doesn’t look like it’s going to pass the House floor. Update: It failed. The vote was 207-226 against the measure, with one member not voting, half an hour after voting began. Voting remains open even though the “official” time has … Continue reading
…and I want a pony!
Larry Summers and Mark Thoma argue that if done right the bailout will mean we can solve this crisis and still have everything we want, tax cuts, health care spending and all kinds of other goodies. Larry argues: Just as … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Lance's Page
Tagged bailout, Chrysler, housing, housing market, Larry Summers, Mark Thoma, mortgage crisis
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Short of Wisdom, Common Sense and a Grasp of Reality
The hedge fund industry is feeling gloomy, and so is Mayfair. Meanwhile our government is considering following London’s lead and making their lives even more difficult, by banning short selling for a while. Yep, Fannie would have been just fine … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Economics, Investing, Lance's Page
Tagged bailout, Christopher Cox, markets, S.E.C, short sellers, stocks
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Uprecedented Financial Turmoil
Today the Fed went to the Treasury and asked for a line of credit. You know, the lender of last resort has had to turn to our Treasury to protect their balance sheet. Want to see something weird. Go here … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Investing, Lance's Page
Tagged Bonds, Federal Reserve, finance, financial markets, Investing, money markets, Treasury Bills
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Mixed Economies: Efficacy Without Moral Narrative
(photo: Ian Murchison | website) The nationalization of Fannie & Freddie is often presented as a crisis of faith for the political right, due to its manifest incompatibility with the advertised belief in the “free market.” However, Sunder Katwala at … Continue reading
Posted in Domestic Politics, Economics, Lee's Page
Tagged analysis, Anglo-Saxon, Bush Administration, business, capitalism, Conservatism, democracy, Environment, Fannie Mae, Francis Fukuyama, Freddie Mac, free market, Fukuyama, left, liberalism, markets, mixed economy, morality, mortgage crisis, NextLeft, orthodoxy, private sector, Reagan, right, social democracy, Sunder Katwala, Thatcher, Third Way
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Fannie and Freddie Taken Over
Redstate A good description of what just happened to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and some reasons why. This made me laugh. “If we were in China, they’d probably have “committed suicide” with bullets inexplicably entering the backs of their … Continue reading
Posted in Around the Web, Economics, MikeR's Page
Tagged China, Chinese, Fannie Mae, finance, Freddie Mac, government interventioin, GSE, mortages markets, mortgage crisis, nationalization, RedState, suicide
2 Comments