Relevant and even prescient commentary on news, politics and the economy.

What is a safe asset?

by Rebecca Wilder What is a safe asset? Last month, David Beckworth at Macro and Other Market Musings had some interesting thoughts on the global shortage of safe assets. His essay got me thinking about what is a safe asset? Beckworth alludes to three definitions of ‘safe’: (1) a credit being AAA-rated, (2) satisfying a […]

The Presidential Campaign has Been Going on too Long

Lifted from Robert’s Stochastic Thoughts: The Presidential Campaign has Been Going on too Long I read “MIT” as “Mitt” at this article MIT’s Light Speed Camera Captures Photons Moving then I immediately thought that, maybe with this new miracle technology they can freeze Romney’s policy positions and capture him mid flip flop.

Romney’s Tax Plan–good for the wealthy, not so good for everybody else

by Linda Beale Romney’s Tax Plan–good for the wealthy, not so good for everybody else The Tax Policy Center has done an analysis of Romney’s plan for US taxation. SeeThe Romney Plan. It doesn’t look bad at all for the wealthy. In adding at least $600 billion to the U.S. deficit by 2015, Romney would […]

Unemployment insurance only for grads?

Off the charts blog via Mark Thoma For legislation to extend the payroll tax cut through the end of 2012, House Republicans are expected to push for a provision on unemployment insurance (UI) that is appalling even by current Washington standards. Neither President Obama nor Congress should accept any payroll-tax legislation that includes it. Here’s […]

Romney’s Tax Proposal by pgl

Romney’s Tax Proposal The Tax Policy Center provides its review of which taxpayers will pay more and which ones will pay less under the tax proposal introduced by Mitt Romney. A really short summary goes as follows: (a) The well to do will pay less in taxes; (b) The working poor will pay more in […]

Corporatism and taxes

by Linda Beale Corporatism and taxes Corporatism is the term used to describe a economic and governmental approach that favors large entities over people, including adopting rules and regulations to suit the regulated entities, tilting legislation to protect corporate entities that might otherwise be considered to be causing harm to the public good, and allowing […]

European Daily Catch: Unemployment and Retail

by Rebecca Wilder European Daily Catch: Unemployment and Retail Global labor reports prevailed today, but the US employment report took center stage. I’ll not comment on that report, so as to keep with my generally all things European theme here at The Wilder View. However, a quick sift through my feed reveals rather cynical takes: […]

Answers: Taking IOR to Zero

I want to thank all the commenters on my last post — at Angry Bear, at Asymptosis, and at Mike Norman’s blog. You’ve provided me with exactly the education I hoped to achieve. Here’s hoping others benefited similarly. I asked: what would happen if the the Fed cut the interest rate on reserves from its […]

Rick Santorum and the Australian school

Sort of lifted from Robert’s Stochastic Thoughts: Rick Santorum has no use for the Ivy League, or the economists produced therein. (He also expressed doubts about the Republican reliance on economists from the “Australian school.”(Johannas von Quiggin take note) Likely he meant the “Austrian school”. Read more here . Uh. … this isn’t one of […]