News
Bloomberg | International Demand for U.S. Assets Rises
International demand for U.S. financial assets rose more than forecast in January as investors sought a haven from the debt crisis in Europe.
Washington Post | Boosting the economy through natural gas exports
In an otherwise gloomy economic time for the United States, the boom in natural-gas production has been a dazzling bright spot.
WSJ | Sales Gains Lift Hopes for Recovery
Americans have increased their spending this year and businesses stocked up to meet demand, reinforcing hopes for the economy in the first quarter.
CNBC | US Economy to Gain Traction: Economists Poll
The U.S. economy will gain traction this year after a sluggish first quarter, a Reuters poll found, even as the potential threat from higher oil prices pushes analysts to raise their inflation expectations.
Bloomberg | New York Area Factories Grew in March by Most Since June 2010
Manufacturing in the New York region expanded in March at the fastest pace since June 2010, indicating factories are still driving the expansion.
Econ Comments & Analysis
CATO | Expanding Ex-Im's Mandate Is A Big Mistake
Throughout its history, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) has limited its activities mostly to financing and guaranteeing U.S. export transactions. But in anticipation of Ex-Im's charter expiry on May 31, 2012, the Obama administration has called for a massive and unprecedented new role for the Ex-Im Bank: to finance U.S. corporations' domestic sales, as well.
CNN Money | Volcker: Economy needs bold action, including tax hikes
Former Fed Chief Paul Volcker urged U.S. political leaders to join forces for bold action to reduce deficits and secure the nation's future.
Politico | High gas prices threaten recovery
Global oil markets are hanging on by the slimmest margin, leaving every American motorist — and our economic recovery — vulnerable to hostile governments, terrorist strikes on infrastructure, extreme weather or other shocks.
Real Clear Markets | Obama Makes Housing An Entitlement, Not An Opportunity
President Obama forcefully argued for "no bailouts, no handouts, and no copouts" in his State of the Union Speech in January, but it's hard to take those words seriously after examining his housing and homeownership policies over the last three years.
WSJ | Rearview Stress Tests
So the Federal Reserve and Treasury have stress-tested America's 19 biggest banks and deemed that only the relatively small Ally Financial is short of capital. Hallelujah, brother.
CATO | How Entrepreneurs Created the Great Boom That Made Modern Japan
In less than two generations, during the late 19th century, Japan transformed itself from a medieval backwater to a dynamic modern economy.
Blogs
National Journal | Are Renewable Energy Sources the Solution to High Gas Prices?
In his weekly address President Obama used the recent spike in gas prices to explain that we need to invest in more renewable energy
The American | On rare earths, America must also let the market work
Yesterday morning, President Obama announced that the United States, in concert with Japan and the European Union, would bring a trade case against China regarding its export restrictions on rare earth minerals.
National Review | The Real Cost of TARP
When assessing the impact of the Troubled Assets Relief Program, commentators often note that the program didn’t end up costing much to taxpayers.
