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

minimum wages

“Adjusting minimum wages for inflation is a necessary yet modest step toward protecting affordability for low-wage workers: The case of California’s Fast-Food Council,” Economic Policy Institute Modern labor markets—particularly those that low-wage workers participate in—are characterized by significant employer power. Low-wage employers rarely if ever negotiate pay with workers, instead posting take-it-or-leave-it wage offers. Further, […]

The consequences of mafia style bust-outs and military belligerence for interest rates

 – by New Deal democrat While there isn’t any big economic news today, there certainly was action overnight in response to the latest TACO. As I type this, oil is back down to $90/barrel, and stock futures are soaring. This for something (correctly I think) framed as a “fragile cease fire” by J.D. Vance. But […]

Trump May Lose in SCOTUS on Birthright

The argument? There really is not an argument. Why? Opponents to the Trump initiative, offer up a century of precedent. One being the United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898). The decision confirms birthright citizenship applies to almost all children born on U.S. soil, regardless of parental status. Uniformly, courts blocked the Trump administration from implementing […]

Theme song of the Davy Crockett TV series from 1954–1955

Just a few thoughts and then Professor Heather will bring us to the reality of this administration. I did watch the D.C. TV series as a kid. Fake raccoon skin caps were a hot item. We did not have one and other kids did. If I remember correctly, Disney had some episodes about Mr. Crockett […]

Trump’s Success

Erica York from the Tax Foundation . . . Compared to what? The last week brought several retrospective analyses of President Trump’s first year of reciprocal tariffs, ranging from victory laps to selective trendline comparison to careful examination of what’s been learned.   It will take much longer to empirically estimate how the rapidly changing tariff environment is impacting an economy that is also subject to other […]

“resurgence of shadow banking?”

There’s a whiff of 2008 in the air. “Private Credit and the New World of Financial Risk,” Paul Krugman On July 15, 2007, the New York Times published an article titled “The richest of the rich, proud of a new Gilded Age.” The article was centered on a profile of Sanford Weill, CEO of Citigroup, who, like […]

March ISM reports show stagflationary expansion — light on the “stag-,” heavy on the “-flation”

– by New Deal democrat As I’ve previously noted a number of times, one of the more surprising developments in the past few months has been the resilience of manufacturing. After taking a beating following “Liberation Day” one year ago, companies adapted and resumed production if anything at an even more brisk pace. That was apparent […]

Fuel Costs are Increasing in Asia and Impacting Tourism

Many nations rely on tourism especially from the United States. When the exchange rate changes, tourism decreases.. Some Calculations to Convert to ~ U.S. Dollar Cost Cost of Diesel in the United States? $5.401/Gallon Aren’t you glad we have cheaper diesel? As a result of increasing costs for diesel fuel, Thais are changing travel plans […]