News
CNN Money | Why homebuilders may never fully recover
The housing market, to put it mildly, still stinks. But have homebuilder stocks finally hit bottom?
WSJ | New Zealand Averts New Recession
New Zealand narrowly avoided a fresh recession in the fourth quarter and most economists are guardedly optimistic about the economy's prospects in the second half of this year.
Fox Business | Durable Goods Orders Unexpectedly Drop
New orders for long-lasting manufactured goods unexpectedly fell in February after a strong showing in January, a government report showed on Thursday, hinting at decelerating manufacturing activity.
WSJ | Income Data Reflect Recovery's Fitful Path
Personal income, hit hard by the recent recession, rebounded across the U.S. last year, but only 10 states saw individuals' earnings surpass their prerecession peaks.
MSNBC | US role in Libya costs hundreds of millions so far
Analyst: Initial cost of operation was between $400 million and $800 million.
WSJ | New Phase in Europe Crisis
Portugal Is Seen Needing Bailout as Austerity Plan Fails, Prime Minister Resigns.
Econ Comments
Cato Institute | Ignorance Makes Us Poorer
Last week, Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, again came out against the pending trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama, claiming they would cost U.S. jobs. Yet every respectable economist, from Adam Smith way back in 1776 until the present, has argued the virtues of free trade.
NRO | A Man-Made Energy Crisis
Obama’s policy is working . . . to raise energy costs.
Future of Capitalism | Rift on Right Over Reaganomics' Future
Leading figures in supply-side economics are heading into the 2012 election sharply divided over the future direction and emphasis of the movement, with one faction pushing for Reagan-style tax rate cuts while another faction advises a focus on a sound dollar, including a return to a gold standard.
WSJ | Pull the Plug on Electric Car Subsidies
They are costly and don't do enough to protect the environment.
Reason | The Rosy Scenario System
Optimism won't fix America's fiscal problems.
Blogs
The Economist: Free Exchange | The limited Mr Osborne
UK inflation and public borrowing
The Hill: On the Money | Business groups press Treasury to shift on corporate tax holiday
A coalition of American-based corporations calling for a tax holiday on overseas profits say the Obama administration is looking at the issue from the wrong perspective.
Forbes: Moneybull | The Obama Administration’s Sidewalk To Nowhere
The Obama administration’s stimulus package is leading us into a ditch.
WSJ: Real Time Economics | Recession Caused Sharp Decline in Start-Ups
The recession caused a sharp decline in new business start-ups, intensifying job market losses and potentially putting future economic growth at risk.
Reports
AEI | Taking the Government Out of Housing Finance: Principles for Reforming the Housing Finance Market
We recommend that the US housing finance market of the future should be governed by four basic principles.
RCM: Wells Fargo Economics Group | New Home Sales Tumble in February
New home sales tumbled 16.9 percent in February to a series low 250,000-unit annual rate. Harsh winter weather and the onslaught of foreclosure sales likely cut into new home sales and also pulled prices lower.
