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

Economic growth and perspectives…links

What does economic growth mean for Americans by Uwe E. Reihnhart Suppose we placed a carefully selected sample of men on a hot stove and another sample of men on dry ice. Could we reasonably conclude that, on average, they were comfortable? As a nation we worship a deity called economic growth… The rich get richer […]

Permanent income hypothesis

In this brief post, Krugman clearly restates his clear (and plausible) view that rule of thumb ad hoc paleo Keyensians had a lot to learn from Milton Friedman. He mentions the Phillips curve. I think I detect a hint of Forder in this sentence “We can argue how many economists really believed in a stable […]

“able-bodied adults to work for food stamps”

“Gov. John Kasich’s administration will limit food stamps for more than 130,000 adults in all but a few economically depressed areas starting Jan. 1. To qualify for benefits, able-bodied adults without children will be required to spend at least 20 hours a week working, training for a job, volunteering or performing a similar type of […]

Rational Nonexuberence – Part 1

In comments to this post, the idea is floated that capacity utilization (TCU)  is about to surge. Mark Sadowski, in comment 5 at this post, reminds us that, “Capacity utilization only applies to industrial production, and industrial production consists of only manufacturing, mining and utilities. Thus it is not very representative of the entire economy, […]

Robert Skidelsky: “We have a problem of deficient aggregate demand… full stop.”

INET has a great interview with Robert Skidelsky. It is well worth watching. Here is the link… He talks about political power in determining which economic theories get applied. He talks about fiscal policy. He mentions that trying to re-work supply side reforms while the markets are weakening in demand can be unproductive. Many other […]

Paying Fast Food Workers More . . . “Moo Cluck Moo”

                                         Picture by K Manley   With all the activity by fast food workers to increase their salary, one fast food restaurant located in Dearborn Heights (just outside of Detroit) and north of 94 on Telegraph is leading the way with increased hourly wages for its workers. Presently at $12.00/hour, “Moo Cluck Moo” is […]

New Jersey Subsidies More Out of Control than Ever Under Christie

I have written before how state and local subsidies are more out of control than ever, and more recently how the number and size of megadeals has increased substantially since the Great Recession. Now a new study from Governing magazine (h/t to Al at LinkedIn group Economic Development 2.0) exhaustively analyzes New Jersey’s five largest […]