News
Fiscal Times | S&P Warns of Downgrades on Portugal and Greece
Leading credit rating agency Standard & Poor's has warned that it could further downgrade both Portugal and Greece's debt in the coming two months, depending on the outcome of a crucial European leaders' summit later this month.
WSJ | Australian Economy Falls Short of Forecasts
The Australian economy grew solidly in the fourth quarter of 2010, bucking the headwinds of rising interest rates, a still fragile global backdrop and devastating floods that inundated the coal-rich state of Queensland in December and January.
NYT | Credit Card Data Tells Mixed Story
American shoppers did not shed their reliance on credit cards over the year-end holidays.
WSJ | Regulators Push 20% Down Payments on Homes
Banking regulators are pushing for mortgage-lending rules that require homeowners to make minimum 20% down payments on loans classified as lower-risk, according to people familiar with the matter.
Time | Court Rules on Corporate Privacy Rights
The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that corporations have no right of personal privacy to prevent the disclosure of documents under the federal Freedom of Information Act.
Bloomberg | Food Crisis Not as Bad as 2008 Because of Rice Price: OECD
A global food crisis on the scale of what happened three years ago isn’t recurring because an increase in the cost of rice, a staple for half the world, has lagged behind a jump for other grains, according to the OECD.
Econ Comments
Cato Institute | It's the Egyptian Economy, Stupid
In order for democracy to sprout along the Nile, transitional leaders should focus as much on Egypt's future economics as its future politics.
WSJ | Get Ready for a Growth Supercycle
Emerging markets could propel a global boom comparable to the industrialization of the United States.
Washington Times | COLE: Obama’s helping hand hoodwinks homeowners
Government mortgage assistance can be worse than nothing.
Bloomberg | Food Crisis Not as Bad as 2008 Because of Rice Price: OECD
A global food crisis on the scale of what happened three years ago isn’t recurring because an increase in the cost of rice, a staple for half the world, has lagged behind a jump for other grains, according to the OECD.
Barrons | Beyond Laissez-Faire
A new biography of Adam Smith reveals a man concerned with humanity as well as economies.
Minyanville | Housing Finance Reform: The Three Actions Politicians Could Take
It's possible that real reform could take root. But it will be a tricky minefield to cross to get there
Blogs
Calculated Risk | Private Construction Spending decreases in January
Catching up ... the Census Bureau reported this morning that overall construction spending decreased in January compared to December (seasonally adjusted).
AEI: The American | Energy Fact of the Week: U.S. a ‘Pathetic Energy Hog’… Not
It is a common misperception that the United States has made little progress in improving its energy efficiency over the last generation.
AEI: The American | The Boehner Uncertainty Principle
Physics has the Heisenberg uncertainty principle; economics now has the Boehner uncertainty principle.
WSJ: Real Time Economics | World-Wide Factory Activity, by Country
Global manufacturing posted another month of strong gains in February, with expansion accelerating in most regions including the U.S.
Forbes: Ideas In Action | You’re on Your Own
A Solution to the Social Security Crisis Lies in Giving Americans the Incentive and Freedom to Make Smart and Cautious Investments
WSJ: Real Time Economics | Bankruptcy Filings Ticked Up Last Month
Consumer bankruptcy filings ticked up in February, but so far the rise has slowed from 2010.
Reports
Mercatus Center | Five Proposals for a New Housing Finance System in The United States
The five papers presented here look beyond the crisis to present various proposals for the long-term reform of the U.S. mortgage market.
