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

Frum: “Can he consolidate power before he loses his aura of inevitability?”

Good question by Frum. Some speculation in this piece by Paul Krugman. Trump is or is becoming unpopular. It comes as no surprise to me Tr_mp is fumbling around and going back and forth in his decision making. People are still hurting except for the upper 10%. The key to this is whether Tr_mp can […]

Trump vs Krugman

Apparently, the guy who bankrupted casinos has called economics Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman a “deranged bum.” LOL! Trump is pissed at Krugman for criticizing Trump’s tariff policy and firing of the BLS person. “Claiming that economic data you don’t like is fraud perpetrated by a deep state conspiracy has been standard practice on the right […]

Cutting Trade with China and Asia

What it means if you cut trade with China and Asia. Shipments start to decrease once the announcement is made. The impact is shown in Paul Krugman’s bar chart. I added the numbers in the second chart. Containers also come out of other countries. Keep in mind. One week (minimum) in the port on either. […]

Musk’s big blooper? His claim of millions of dead people receiving Social Security checks

Elon Musk wants to make seniors on Social Security suffer Smears, Sadism, and Social Security, Paul Krugman We often think of Social Security as a retirement program, which it is. Most Social Security beneficiaries achieve that status simply by reaching retirement age. The program also helps Americans with disabilities preventing them from working or limit […]

Balance of Payments Primer, Part II

A follow up to Part I. Brief Intro: The international role of the dollar and how it does or doesn’t affect the U.S. balance of payments. Paul throws in some discussion on the foundational fallacies underlying Trump officials beliefs on trade. “A Balance of Payments Primer, Part II: The Dollar and All That“ – by […]

United States is the Smallest of the Three Economic Superpowers?

How Can that Be? It must really bother Trump to know this. And for the US, Trump’s posturing will make the United States Economy even smaller. Is the Sleeping Giant Awakening? Paul Krugman Travel day; in fact, filing from the airport lounge. And I can’t really say that I learned a lot — no conversations […]

Paul Krugman’s “Goldilocks” economy is likely to prove “transitory”

PPI and CPI preview: why Paul Krugman’s “Goldilocks” economy is likely to prove “transitory” – by New Deal democrat Sorry for the lack of posting yesterday. Every now and then, real life intrudes and, well, yesterday was one of those days. All of the economic data this week is going to be crammed into tomorrow […]

Is the “second great age of globalization” about to end?

This comes by way of New Deal Democrat who was doing some research and ran across a not so recent Krugman article via the late Economist’s View blog. Krugman’s prescient words of things to come? Hat tip to New Deal democrat and a thank you for sending this to me. “The Great Illusion” Paul Krugman, […]

Politics and the Pandemic: Why I Think Paul Krugman Is Wrong

Politics and the Pandemic: Why I Think Paul Krugman Is Wrong  Krugman has a piece in the New York Times today that offers an explanation for why Republicans oppose every measure—vaccination, masking, limits on indoor gathering—that could reverse the pandemic.  He says it’s because the Democrats support them and that Biden would take credit for reduced caseloads, […]