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

The Strengthen SS Coalition shows ‘Reform’ in One Graph (h/t Ezra)

by Bruce Webb Strengthen Social Security a coalition of progressive organizations determined to protect and strengthen Social Security, coordinated and hosted by Social Security Works (or maybe by now SSW is hosted by SSSC) produced the above graph. I didn’t see it on their website and so grabbed it from Ezra Klein’s post (which does […]

Irish Bailout–impact on taxes uncertain

by Linda Beale Irish Bailout–impact on taxes uncertaincrossposted with Ataxingmatter As plans for the $100 billion bailout of the Irish economy and banking system by the European Commission, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank continues, Ireland’s downtrodden prime minister (who will call elections after the budget is finalized) has said that it “will not” […]

Preface to a Thought-Experiment on Labor, Capital, and Income Distribution

Mark Thoma goes to something called the Business Ethics Blog for an economics thought-experiment: A Montreal accessories company has taken its policy of using no animal products beyond the rack and has forbidden its staff from eating meat and fish at work. A former employee says the policy violated her rights as a non-vegetarian…. It’s […]

Does A Very Strange Distribution Lead to a Sacrifice in the Hope of a More Interesting Endgame?

Brad DeLong notes an experiment subject (as is the wont of the Obama Administration to date) to regulatory capture: In a surprising move, the Obama administration will extend special bonus payments meant to reward top-performing Medicare Advantage insurers to those that score only average ratings….The law says bonuses, which start in 2012, would go to […]

…the sacrifices necessary…

Beat the Press Dean Baker November 22, 2010 says it well: The Washington Consensus That Excludes the Overwhelming Majority of the Public A front page Washington Post editorial * touted the “accord seen in debate over deficit.” It begins by telling readers that: “the sacrifices necessary to achieve those goals are coming into sharp focus.” […]

ABA TAx Section Pronouncement on Carried Interest

by Linda Beale ABA TAx Section Pronouncement on Carried Interestoriginally posted at Ataxingmatter (Nov. 10) The American Bar Association Section of Taxaction has issued a letter on Comments on Carried Interest Proposals in senate Amendment 4386 to H.R. 4213 (Nov. 5, 2010). As many are aware, a letter from the officers of the ABA Tax  […]

What is the difference between a multinational corporation and a trans-national corporation?

US firms warn Irish over tax move The Irish government has been given a stark warning from some of the biggest American companies in Ireland on the risk of a mass exodus if the country’s low corporation tax rate is raised. What is the difference between a multinational corporation and a trans-national corporation? And what […]

Ireland Will Apply for Bailout Package

The NYT notes this morning: Ireland Will Apply for Bailout Package Irish finance minister Brian Lenihan confirmed today thatIreland had formally applied to Europe and the InternationalMonetary Fund for a bailout package. He would not give an exact figure but said the amount wouldbe in the tens of billions of euros and that the final […]