News
WSJ | U.K. Back in Recession
The U.K. slid back into recession in the first quarter of 2012, dealing a fresh blow to Prime Minister David Cameron's governing coalition and complicating its efforts to fix the nation's public finances.
NY Times | With Venezuelan Food Shortages, Some Blame Price Controls
By 6:30 a.m., a full hour and a half before the store would open, about two dozen people were already in line. They waited patiently, not for the latest iPhone, but for something far more basic: groceries.
WSJ | S&P Cuts India Outlook to Negative
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services cut the outlook on India's long-term credit rating Wednesday in a surprise move that could see Asia's third biggest economy lose its investment-grade status if the government fails to solve deep-seated problems that have clouded its economic prospects and spooked investors.
USA Today | Economy's recovery caught between opposing forces
Economists may have finally learned CEOs' first rule of dealing with Wall Street: It's better to underpromise and overdeliver.
WSJ | Housing Notches Tiny Gains
Fresh economic benchmarks painted a mixed picture of the nation's housing market, reflecting a sector that is inching forward amid fits and starts.
Market Watch | Orders for big-ticket items fall 4.2% in March
Orders for long-lasting U.S. goods fell sharply in March, largely because of fewer bookings for commercial jets, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.
Econ Comments & Analysis
CNN Money | Companies see slower growth ahead
In what could be yet another sign that the recovery is losing momentum, a new survey shows medium-sized companies are still not confident enough to hire.
The American | Right in the Middle: The Midwest’s Growth Lessons for America
Middle America is a clear picture of how much the basics matter: Cost of living, job quality, schools, and opportunities to develop the right skills for the best jobs.
Fortune | Don't blame the 1% for America's pay gap
It's time to end the myth that the nation's wealthy are getting rich off the backs of the poor. Instead let's figure out what they're doing right.
WSJ | Europe's Phony Growth Debate
Growth or austerity? That's the choice facing Europe these days—or so the Keynesian consensus keeps saying. According to this view, which has dominated world economic councils since the 2008 crisis began, "growth" is mainly a function of government spending.
Washington Times | Not so high-speed rail
Trainmakers interested in getting a big slice of taxpayer cash have until May 11 to notify federal officials that they want to build America’s next-generation high-speed rail cars. Over $550 million is being made available for these next-generation purchases through a program meant to fulfill the White House vision of “trains zipping along at up to 220 miles per hour in our most densely populated corridors.”
Blogs
Atlantic | Does Stimulus Grow the Private Economy?
Let's start off by rehashing the battle over whether the 2009 stimulus bill--ARRA, the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act--really worked. I'm not talking about the tax cuts--I'm talking about the spending: green jobs, new government buildings, health clinic staffers.
