Econ Comments
WSJ | Jobless Rate at 2012 Presidential Vote Forecast at 7.7%, Highest Since Carter-Ford, but the Trend May Matter Most
The U.S. jobless rate will be 7.7% in November 2012, the highest level for a presidential election month since Jimmy Carter defeated Gerald Ford in 1976, according to the average forecast of economists in the latest Wall Street Journal survey.
WSJ | Why North Dakota Is Booming
They're drilling for oil, attracting high tech, and keeping the tax burden moderate. Result: 3.8% unemployment.
Blogs
The Economist: Free Exchange | Are the numbers wrong?
Ezra Klein links to a new study of sorts by economist Michael Mandel which suggests that America's datakeepers are getting something seriously wrong. According to Mr Mandel, American data do not take into account the discount implicit in cheap imports or the import content of American exports. The figures may therefore be overstating American productivity gains and understating the trouble in American industry. It sounds bad.
