News
Politico | Economic mood grows darker
Economic pessimism is on the rise as Americans predict that the unemployment rate will start ticking back upward and expect a deterioration in their household finances over the next year, according to a new survey Friday.
Market Watch | EU sees 'slow recovery' in second half of 2012
The European Commission on Friday said the European Union economy is in a "mild recession," with a recovery "forecast to set in slowly from the second half of the year on."
CNN Money | China inflation slows, but so does production
China's government may have the leeway to unleash more stimulus after reports released Friday showed tamer inflation and slowing industrial production growth.
Politico | Americans like the rich class
Nearly two-thirds of Americans believe that the United States benefits from having a rich class, a figure unchanged from over 20 years ago, according to a new survey Friday.
Econ Comments & Analysis
WSJ | A Volcker Leap of 'Faith'
Thursday's surprise news of J.P. Morgan's $2 billion trading loss shows again why taxpayers don't want to stand behind Wall Street trading desks. But nailing down a precise definition of the Volcker rule, which was supposed to prevent taxpayer-backed gambling in the securities markets, is proving to be harder than forecasting changes in the Chinese politburo.
Fortune | The draconian hidden penalty on student loans
If you default on your payments, the federal government may hit you with a 25% sledge-hammer. And it's entirely legal.
Fiscal Times | How the Rich Make Us All Better Off
Rich people, Conrad says, do most of the saving and investing. They provide the capital that creates new businesses and industries, finances inventions and discoveries, and are willing to take many risks and lose a lot of money for every one that pays off spectacularly. If the rich didn’t do these things, we would all be worse off.
CATO | Questioning Homeownership as a Public Policy Goal
For decades U.S. housing policy has focused on promoting homeownership. In this study, I show that the set of policies designed to further homeownership has been ineffective and expensive and that homeownership as a public policy goal is not well supported.
Blogs
Calculated Risk | LPS: House Price Index increased 0.2% in February
LPS Home Price Index Shows U.S. Home Price Increase of 0.2 Percent in February; Early Data Suggests Further Increase of 0.3 Percent is Likely During March
